Klaus Schuler

Responsible Handling of Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) by Manufacturers of High-Voltage Switchgear

The electricity industry has been using sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) for more than 40 years. SF6 is an excellent insulating and arc-quenching medium and allows systems to be more powerful and more compact than any other available medium. As well as handling the highest voltages and make/break ratings, SF6 switchgear is also very compact and has been responsible for many resourcesaving developments, superseding both oil and air for arc-quenching and insulation1. Over the last few years, however, criticism of SF6 gas has become ever stronger due to its potential effect on the world’s climate. Although the contribution of accumulated SF6 to manmade greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is, at 0.2%, relatively minimal, the Kyoto Conference in 1997 nevertheless still included it on the list of the six human-made greenhouse gases for monitoring2.