Sulfur hexafluoride

Formula: SF₆ | CAS: 2551-62-4

Detecting sulfur hexafluoride: SF6 the most powerful greenhouse gas emissions known to humanity which have alarmingly risen rapidly in recent years!

A health and environmental risk, using SF6 on a day to day basics

Cheap and non-flammable, SF6 is a colourless, odourless, synthetic gas. It makes a hugely effective insulating material for medium and high-voltage electrical installations.

It is widely used across the electrical industries, from large power stations to wind turbines to electrical sub-stations in towns and cities. It prevents electrical accidents and fires.

“SF6 world production was at 7,000 tons in 1993 and was expected to reach 10,000 metric tons per year by 2010. The electrical industries use approximately 80% of that amount. In 2002, SF6 emissions from the US electric power industry totalled nearly 600 metric tons, that equates to 14.1-million tons of CO2, or 5% of total greenhouse gas emissions from US industrial processes”.
– Grand View Research

Monitoring of SF6, how damaging to the climate is SF6?

SF6 in its pure state is inert, colourless, tasteless, non-flammable and nontoxic. It is heavier than air, and can accumulate in cable trenches, pits and tunnels. A volume greater than 19% in the air may cause asphyxiation. An appropriate risk assessment should be undertaken in order to determine if cable trenches/tunnels are classified as confined spaces, in which case appropriate control measures for access must be implemented.

Identifying SF6 exposure and the important’s of why detecting sulfur hexafluoride early is critical

Under normal circumstances, it might be considered rare to be exposed to SF6 without enough oxygen dilution; but for utility employees, this type of exposure is well within the normal course of duties when working on SF6 filled switchgear in enclosed spaces. Indeed, if a substantial quantity of SF6 gas leaks in an enclosed area, it can pose a real danger of asphyxiation to personnel