SF6 ReUse Process PDF
SF6 ReUse Process PDF
The SF6-ReUse-Process
A contribution on the
sustainability of SF6
2
PROCESS FOR REUSING USED SF6 GAS
- A Contribution towards SF6 Sustainability -
CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION
3. APPLICATION INFORMATION
4. COSTS
4.2 Freight
4.4 Analysis
5 LITERATURE
6 APPENDIX
3
1 INTRODUCTION
Thanks to its outstanding insulation and arc-extinguishing properties, SF6 is mainly used in
the field of electrical engineering. For more than 40 years the gas has been used for high
and medium voltage applications, such as gas-insulated switchgears (GIS), high-voltage
cable-in-conduit conductors and transformers.
Due to the ecological and economical aspects, any SF6 which escapes during
maintenance work or when electrical systems are decommissioned should be contained
and returned to the economic cycle. This limits emissions of SF6 into the atmosphere to
the extremely low leakage rate of the systems.[1]
Solvay, as a globally leading producer of SF6, developed the SF6 – ReUse – Process at
the beginning of the 1990s in order to provide SF6 users with virtually unlimited reuse
possibilities for SF6 and, consequently, to eliminate emissions as much as possible.
The known name ”ReUse” represents within this concept an efficient process which is
integrated in the production of SF6. During this process the used SF6 - as long as it meets
certain quality requirements – is converted into new virgin SF6 meeting all established
specifications for new SF6 incl. the non-toxic requirement according to IEC 60376.
In case the used gas does not meet the established quality requirements and,
thus, cannot be transformed again into virgin new gas the used gas is treated as
waste and environmentally friendly destroyed at accredited waste incineration plants.
The SF6 – ReUse – Process has been successfully implemented by SF6 system
manufacturers and operators and also by accredited electrical and disposal companies for
more than 15 years.
The SF6 – ReUse – Brochure describes the SF6 – ReUse – Process and various
applications connected with reuse.
The brochure also contains descriptions of SF6 measuring and service equipment, SF6
treatment units and packaging and also lists the costs for returning used SF6.
4
A prerequisite for the successful implementation of the SF6 – Reuse – Process is the
observation and the compliance with all information and guidelines contained in this
brochure.
Solvay operates SF6 production plants at Bad Wimpfen, Germany and at Onsan, South
Korea. At both SF6 plants Solvay is able to accept used SF6 gas and to convert the used
SF6 into new virgin SF6 according to the SF6 – ReUse – Process described in this
brochure.
The information and guidelines in this brochure apply in particular for return of used SF6
gas to Solvay’s plant at Bad Wimpfen, Germany, only.
For the return of used SF6 to Solvay’s plant in South-Korea please contact us for a
separate information brochure as regulations and terms differ according to the plant
locations.
In case of any further questions, our SF6 experts will be glad to assist you and help you to
develop an optimum solution for reusing your used SF6.
5
2 The SF6 – ReUse – Process
The SF6 – ReUse – Process from Solvay is illustrated in the following diagram in Figure
1, where a distinction is made among Inspection, ReUse and Disposal Cases.
Before SF6 is removed from electrical equipment, the gas state must be analyzed with the
portable measuring instruments described in Table 3.
Generally, when used SF6 is returned to Solvay for ReUse and Disposal Cases, its gas
analysis is conducted at the Solvay plant laboratory.
The following case distinctions are made on the basis of the results from the gas analysis.
6
2.1 Inspection Case
All contaminants such as dust, moisture, air, oil and SO2 / SO2F2 compounds result from
the operating process and are a normal ageing process of the gas. Operating-related
contaminants may be eliminated by the operator on-site during maintenance work using
service equipment fitted with the corresponding gas treatment systems, as described in
Section 3.2. The treated gas is then analyzed with portable measuring instruments as
described in Section 3.1.
If the treated SF6 fulfills the requirements of the plant operator and IEC 60480 [2] for used
SF6 during this maintenance work, the SF6 may be filled directly via an SF6 service
systems.
In case the used gas does not meet at least the requirements of the plant operator and the
IEC 60480 standard, the SF6 ReUse Case must be applied.
The filled SF6 – ReUse – Packaging are sent back to Solvay’s plant in Germany where
the used SF6 is regenerated into new virgin gas. SF6 which has been regenerated by
Solvay fulfills even a higher specification than that required by IEC 60376, as illustrated in
Table 1.
In order to be able to transform the used SF6 gas back into new virgin SF6 the used gas
must fulfill the so-called SF6 – ReUse – Specification in Table 2.
In addition the material must be of one sort only and shall not be radioactive.
Also, information regarding the area of application in which the used SF6 has been utilized
must also be provided.
In case of other contaminants (e.g. SOF2, SO2F2 etc), please contact Solvay to check if
the material can be converted back into new SF6.
7
The Disposal Case exists when the used SF6 does not fulfill the SF6 – ReUse –
Specification.
Table 1 : Solvay product specification, IEC 60376 specification and ASTM specification for
new SF6 analysis of liquid phase[3]
When a Disposal Case arises, the used SF6 must be incinerated in accredited
incineration plants. The used SF6 is listed with waste key numbers 160504* and
8
160215*. Solvay has the possibility to dispose contaminated SF 6 in the special
waste incineration plant of Infraserv GmbH & Co. KG at Industriepark Frankfurt-Höchst.
3. APPLICATION INFORMATION
The following equipment and its proper use are important prerequisites for implementation
of the SF6 – ReUse – Process.
Portable and easy-to-operate measuring devices are used to analyze the used SF6 gas for
moisture and oil content, the SO2 and HF concentration as well as the SF6 content. The
SF6 measuring devices are able to determine the state of the gas within a short time and
with very little loss of sample gas.
Dew point or frost point measuring devices are used to determine the moisture
concentration. The devices automatically display the dew point or frost point in ppm H2O or
in degree centigrade.
If the gas contains contaminants caused by decomposition, SO2 is formed as a stable end
product. For this reason, portable decomposition product measuring instruments using
Dräger® Tubes may be used for detection. Because of the cross-sensitivity of these
instruments, they also show the presence of other acidic constituents such as SO2F2.
Electro-chemical sensors for measuring SO2 concentrations in SF6 are available and were
more and more inserted to used SF6 gas determination.
Decomposition product measuring instruments using Dräger Tubes are also used to
determine the HF and oil content. Other, more precise analytical instruments for field
operations are available and are described in the reviewed IEC 62271-4.
The purity of SF6 in regard to other gases, such as air, is determined with measuring
instruments that determine the percentage of SF6 by volume.
On top of this SF6 combination measuring instruments are developed, which integrate the
above measuring methods in one instrument shown in figure 2.
9
Table 3 contains an overview of analytical SF6 instruments for determining the state of the
gas. It is important that the different measuring ranges are considered when the results of
the measurements are being assessed.
Figure 2 : Measuring Device for SF6 (DILO Multi Analyser [4], WIKA [5])
10
system. Service devices also exist which can evacuate the system and liquefy the
gaseous SF6 before it is filled into suitable pressurized gas containers (cf. section 3.3).
The SF6 service devices are portable, simple to use, gas-proof and oil-free (Figure 3).
All materials used in the devices are compatible with SF6 and its decomposition products.
SF6 service devices are equipped with filters and adsorption units from table 4.
Gas can be stored in a liquid or gaseous state. In all cases it should be possible to extract
the gas from the SF6 system until a residual pressure of max. 2 mbar is reached.
To prevent emissions during the evacuation, systems filled with SF6 should be fitted with
secure gas tight connections, such as DILO couplings with 8 and 20mm nominal width.
The gas connection should be constructed in such a way that mistakes during filling,
maintenance and emptying are prevented. Table 5 shows a survey on different service
devices.
New gas quality according to IEC 60376 cannot be achieved with the SF6 Service
devices!
11
Table 4 : Various types of filters and adsorption agents used in gas treatment units
12
Figure 4 : DILO Portable Pre-Filter Unit (Dry Filter & Particle Filter)
We recommend SF6 service devices enabling evacuation until 1mbar in order to avoid
SF6 emissions.
As used SF6 may contain decomposition products, used SF6 must be filled only into SF6 –
ReUse – Packaging, as shown in Figure 5. Special service devices are needed to transfer
the used gas into the SF6 – ReUse – Packaging.
13
Figure 5 : 40l and 600l SF6 – ReUse – Packaging
Minimum 100bar SF6 – ReUse – Packaging complies with the regulations for hydrogen
chloride and is approved for used SF6 with corrosive substances > 1% by mass [6].
All SF6 – ReUse – Packaging are equipped with valves (DIN 477 – Part 1 : Type A, 1” No.
8) and screw-in fittings which are different from those used in containers for new gas to
prevent inadvertent filling and contamination of new SF6. The valves are made of stainless
steel to resist corrosive decomposition products.
The Solvay plant in Bad Wimpfen provides this packaging on a rental basis. They contain a small
SF6 residual pressure and are marked with the prescribed hazard labels (UN3308) as
shown in Table 6.
The described SF6 – ReUse – Packaging for used SF6 may be purchased from Solvay
plant. Customers may also send their own SF6 – ReUse – Packaging if they fulfill the
described criteria.
14
In case of contamination of new SF6 packaging with used gas, packaging has to be
cleaned in a costly and time-consuming process. Responsible parties will be invoiced for
the cleaning costs.
The party who is the shipper of the goods (e.g. used SF6 gas in the appropriate containers)
is responsible for the transport of the consignment.
When these packaging are being transported, ADR (road), RID (rail), IMDG code (sea)
and IATA - DGR (air) regulations must be respected.
The packaging must be labeled and the transportation documents must contain the
information as described in Table 6.
It is the sender’s responsibility to attach the prescribed hazard label and UN number to the
container. The required Accident Instruction Leaflets for road transportation and the
prescribed hazard labels with UN numbers are listed in the appendix and can be sent on
request.
15
Table 6 : Gas Categories, Packaging and Labeling according to ADR, RID, IMDG Code
and IATA - DGR
The filling factor depends on the test pressure of the container and is 1.04kg/l [6] for new
SF6 with a packaging test pressure of 70 bar and less than 0.8kg/l [7] for used SF6 with
IEC 60480 specification. The filling factor for containers with 100 and 250bar test pressure
is 1.3kg/l [6] filled with new SF6 gas and shall not exceed 1kg/l (see Figure 6) for used SF6 gas.
16
As the inert gas concentration rises – e.g. the concentration of air – the filling factor falls,
as illustrated in Figure 6. This must be considered.
Figure 6 : Relation between inert gas concentration and filling factor for SF6 [6]
17
4. Costs
When contaminated SF6 from switchgear and other application is returned, the following
costs can be expected.
4.2 Freight
Freight costs are incurred for sending empty packaging to their destination and returning
the filled packaging to Solvay’s plant. The amount depends on the respective destination
and is calculated on a case-by-case basis.
4.4 Analysis
When we receive 40l cylinders or 600l containers with reusable SF6, we invoice €205 per
cylinder or container regardless of the filling rate.
- Freight Costs from the Solvay plant in Bad Wimpfen to the disposal plant in Frankfurt and
back to Bad Wimpfen.
- Incineration Costs of €2.60 per kilogram product. A minimum charge of €50 per 40l
cylinder and €100 per 600l container will be invoiced for each procedure.
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5. LITERATURE
[1] Draft voluntary self-regulation of SF6 procedures, manufacturers and operators of
electrical equipment > 1kV for electrical energy transmission and distribution in the Federal
Republic of Germany, May 2005, www.zvei.org
[2] IEC 60480, Beuth Verlag GmbH, Berlin, 2003
[3] IEC 60376, Beuth Verlag GmbH, Berlin, April 2005
[4] DILO Product Information, Babenhausen, 2002 and 2013 Version, www.dilo-gmbh.de
[5] WIKA Product Information, Klingenberg, 2010 Version, www.wika.de
[6] Technical Regulations for Pressurized Gases (TRG) : TRG 101 Appendix 2, October
1996
[7] CIGRE : SF6 Recycling Guide, Document CIGRE 234, 2003
6. Appendix
Appendix 1 : Material Safety Data Sheet for Used SF6 (12 pages)
Appendix 2 : Labels for SF6 – ReUse – Packaging (1 page)
Appendix 3 : ADR Transport Document (1 page)
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SAFETY DATA SHEET
according to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006
1.2. Relevant identified uses of the substance or mixture and uses advised against
- Identified uses : - Recycling
1.3. Details of the supplier of the safety data sheet
- Company : SOLVAY FLUOR GmbH
- Address : HANS-BOECKLER-ALLEE 20
D- 30173 HANNOVER
- Telephone : +495118570
- Fax : +495118572146
- E-mail address : [email protected]
1.4. Emergency telephone number
- Emergency telephone number +44(0)1235 239 670 [CareChem 24] (Europe)
Page 1 of 13
SAFETY DATA SHEET
according to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006
Hydrogen fluoride
<= 0.1 %
(Impurities)
CAS-No.: 7664-39-3 / EC-No.: 231-634-8 / Index-No.: 009-002-00-6
Page 2 of 13
SAFETY DATA SHEET
according to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006
Thionyl difluoride
<= 2 %
(Impurities)
CAS-No.: 7783-42-8 / EC-No.: 231-997-2 / Index-No.: -
Disulfur decafluoride
< 1%
(Impurities)
CAS-No.: 5714-22-7 / EC-No.: 227-204-4 / Index-No.: -
Carbon tetrafluoride
<= 3 %
(Impurities)
CAS-No.: 75-73-0 / EC-No.: 200-896-5 / Index-No.: -
Page 3 of 13
SAFETY DATA SHEET
according to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006
Page 4 of 13
SAFETY DATA SHEET
according to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006
Page 5 of 13
SAFETY DATA SHEET
according to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006
Page 6 of 13
SAFETY DATA SHEET
according to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006
Page 7 of 13
SAFETY DATA SHEET
according to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006
Page 8 of 13
SAFETY DATA SHEET
according to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006
Page 9 of 13
SAFETY DATA SHEET
according to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006
Page 10 of 13
SAFETY DATA SHEET
according to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006
Page 11 of 13
SAFETY DATA SHEET
according to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006
Page 12 of 13
SAFETY DATA SHEET
according to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006
This SDS is only intended for the indicated country to which it is applicable. The European SDS format compliant with the
applicable European legislation is not intended for use nor distribution in countries outside the European Union with the
exception of Norway and Switzerland. Safety datasheets applicable in other countries/regions are available upon
request.
The information given corresponds to the current state of our knowledge and experience of the product, and is not
exhaustive. This applies to product which conforms to the specification, unless otherwise stated. In this case of
combinations and mixtures one must make sure that no new dangers can arise. In any case, the user is not exempt from
observing all legal, administrative and regulatory procedures relating to the product, personal hygiene, and protection of
human welfare and the environment.
Page 13 of 13
APPENDIX 2: LABEL FOR SF6 - REUSE – PACKAGING
Absender (Name, Anschrift, Land) Versandort
A Expéditeur (nom, adresse, pays) Ort/Lieu FRACHTBRIEF
Für den gewerblichen
Beladestelle Güterkraftverkehr
national*/international*
Gemeinde- *Nichtzutreffendes streichen!
Bereich
Nr.
Land / Pays
Empfänger (Name, Anschrift, Land) Bestimmungsort
Destinataire (nom, adresse, pays) F Ort/Lieu
Amtliches Kennz. LKW Nutzlast
Gemeinde- Fahrzeug-
Bereich Führer
Begleiter
Land/Pays
Weitere Entfer-
Beladestellen nung km
Erklärungen, Vereinbarungen (ggf. Hinweis auf Spezialfahrzeuge) Ordnungs-Nr. der Genehmigung
L Anweisungen des Absenders (Zoll-und sonstige amtliche Behandlung)
P Instructions de l’expéditeur (formalités et autres)
Weitere Beladung Fahrzg. bereitgestellt
Entladestellen Tag Stunde
Beladung beendet Stunde
Tag
KFZ-Wechsel Entladung Fahrzg. bereitgestellt
Tag Stunde
In
Entladung beendet Stunde
Tag
E F G H J K
Kennzeichen/Nr. Anzahl der Art der Verpackung Bezeichnung des Gutes Bruttogewicht kg Umfang m³
Marques et Packstücke Mode d’emballage Nature de la marchandise Poids brut kg Cubage m³
numéros No. des colis
Unterschrift und Stempel des Absenders Unterschrift und Stempel des Empfängers Unterschrift und Anschrift des Frachtführers
R (Signature et timbre de l’expéditeur) T (Signature et timbre du destinataire) SN (Signature et adresse du transporteur)
P Frachtberechnung im Binnenverkehr
Frachtpfl. Gew.kg Bezeichnung Vereinbarte Fracht Zusätzliche Betrag Summe
Betrag Vereinbarungen
Euro-Palette Euro-Palette
Gitterbox-Palette Gitterbox-Palette
Einfach-Palette Einfach-Palette
Nettobetrag
Bestätigung des Empfängers/Datum/Unterschrift Bestätigung des Fahrers/Datum/Unterschrift + _____ % Umsatzsteuer
Beförderungs-
entgelt, Gesamtsumme
Solvay Korea Co., Ltd.
EWAH-Solvay R&I Center
150, Bukahyun-ro Solvay Fluor GmbH
Soedaemun-gu Hans-Böckler-Allee 20
Seoul 120-140 30173 Hannover
South Korea Germany
Telephone: +82 2 2125 5306 Telephone: +49 511 857-0
Fax: +82 2 2125 5380 Fax: +49 511 857-2146
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
www.solvay.com
www.solvaychemicals.com
www.ahlersheinel.de
Disclaimer:
To our present knowledge, the information contained herein is accurate as of the date of this document. However, neither Solvay nor any of its affiliates makes any warranty, express or
implied or accepts any liability in connection with this information or its use. This information is for use by technically skilled persons at their own discretion and risk and does not relate to
the use of this product in combination with any other substance or any other process. This is not a license under any patent or other proprietary right. The user alone must finally determine
suitability of any information or material for any contemplated use, the manner of use in compliance with relevant legislations and whether any patents are infringed. Solvay reserves its right
to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the information at any time without prior notification.