Scribd
Upload
102 views5 pages

GIS Vs AIS Life Cycle Assessment

The document discusses a life cycle assessment comparing air-insulated switchgear (AIS) and gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). It finds that at the grid level, switchgear type makes little difference to environmental impact compared to other grid components like cables and transformers. At the switchgear level, GIS performs better than AIS on several environmental impact measures. However, switchgear make only a minor contribution overall, so regulations targeting switchgear type cannot be justified from an ecological perspective.

Uploaded by

Vasudev Agrawal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
102 views5 pages

GIS Vs AIS Life Cycle Assessment

The document discusses a life cycle assessment comparing air-insulated switchgear (AIS) and gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). It finds that at the grid level, switchgear type makes little difference to environmental impact compared to other grid components like cables and transformers. At the switchgear level, GIS performs better than AIS on several environmental impact measures. However, switchgear make only a minor contribution overall, so regulations targeting switchgear type cannot be justified from an ecological perspective.

Uploaded by

Vasudev Agrawal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

GIS vs AIS – Life cycle assessment

http://electrical- engineering- portal.com/gis- vs- ais- life- cycle- assessment January 22, 2013

In order to ensure the f uture supply of electricity we require sustainable concepts that
preserve resources and do not harm our environment. Humankind needs a reliable and
secure power supply that is also environmentally f riendly and economic – today and in the
f uture. On the one hand, the grids that are needed to transmit and distribute electricity
comprise cables and transmission lines, and on the other, components such as
transf ormers and switchgear. Designs (topology) of transmission and distribution grids
vary depending on the application.

For example, in the case of distribution grids we can make a distinction between utility
grids and those of industrial customers. But it is also the available switchgear
technologies that open up various possibilities f or grid design. Thus, manuf acturers and
above all grid operators must f ind well-balanced solutions under a wide range of criteria.

Synthetically produced sulphur hexaf luoride (SF6 gas) makes an important contribution to
this task. As an insulation and arc-extinguishing medium in high and medium-voltage
switchgear, SF6 has enabled a continuous development of advanced solutions in the
transmission and distribution of electrical energy like no other technology since 1960.

Top

Discussions about environmental aspects


Immediately af ter the Kyoto Protocol was signed,
German manuf acturers and operators of SF6
switchgear and equipment and the SF6 producer
Solvay Fluor und Derivate GmbH & Co. KG declared
their commitment to avoid and reduce emissions
throughout the entire product lif e cycle and also to
monitor SF6 emissions. The German government
expressly acknowledged this voluntary commitment
in 1997.

Switchgear manuf acturers, electricity suppliers and


Solvay Fluor prepared an initial lif e cycle
assessment study as early as 1999. The study
involved the analysis of an urban electricity transmission system. This previous lif e cycle
assessment showed that the use of SF6-insulated high-voltage switchgear in urban
energy supply is advantageous even f rom an ecological aspect.

Subsequently, a more detailed study became necessary f or the area of medium-voltage


switchgear in energy distribution. Within the scope of its considerations to implement the
National Climate Protection Programme, the German Ministry f or the Environment
considered the relevance of SF6 in medium-voltage switchgear in regard to this
programme. Theref ore, to obtain reliable inf ormation about the environmental prof ile of
medium-voltage switchgear industry perf ormed a corresponding lif e cycle assessment
study f or the power distribution at the medium-voltage level in 2003.

Top

Goal and scope of the life cycle assessment


On the one hand, lif e cycle assessment studies such as the one presented here should
create a platf orm f or a sound environmental discussion, and on the other hand,
demonstrate possibilities f or f urther ecological optimisation to the companies involved.
The goal and scope of the present study is to develop an environmental prof ile of power
distribution in the medium-voltage range with a comparison between air-insulated
switchgear (AIS) and gas-insulated switchgear (GIS).

Top

Procedures of the life cycle assessment


The study was commissioned as a joint project by ABB, AREVA T&D (f ormerly:
ALSTOM), SIEMENS, EnBW, E.ON Hanse, RWE and Solvay Fluor. The lif e cycle
assessment was conducted in accordance with ISO 14040–43 standards and included the
participation of scientists and other stakeholders in the advisory board as well as a
critical review by an external, independent verif ier f rom TÜV NORD CERT.

In the course of the study, data was gathered f or a representative mix of medium-
voltage switchgear: transf ormer substations, ring-main units (RMU) and customer
substations. The data included electrical key f igures (in particular ohmic losses), material
data f rom disassembly analyses as well as electrical load and lif etime.

To determine the quantity structures two dif f erent approaches were taken.

For the system approach on grid level two representative model grids were
examined: on the one hand, an urban and on the other, a rural region. These model
grids are characteristic f or utility grids and have a large number of ring-main units
(RMUs). On the basis of the network calculation it was also possible to include
ohmic losses of cables, transmission lines and transf ormers.
On the switchgear level a representative German mix of medium-voltage switchgear
was determined based upon a current delivery statistic f rom the Zentralverband
Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie (ZVEI). This mix covers the complete range
of switchgear types both f or use in the utility grids and f or industry and
inf rastructure grids. However, an investigation at the switchgear level means that
the considerable ohmic losses of cables, transmission lines and transf ormers are
not taken into consideration.

Top

Results of the life cycle assessment


An analysis of the contribution
made by distribution grids to the
global warming potential (GWP) in
Germany shows that the greatest
share is attributable to ohmic
losses in cables, transmission
lines and transf ormers. At
present, SF6 emissions f rom
medium-voltage switchgear
contribute less than 0.005 % to the
global warming potential in
Germany. Furthermore, the
f ollowing conclusions can be
drawn f rom the results of the lif e When t he t ot al global warming pot ent ial (GWP) of a
represent at ive urban dist ribut ion grid is considered t he
cycle assessment:
swit chgear only makes a minor cont ribut ion. Rat her, ot her
grid component s such as cables and t ransf ormers play
System approach on grid t he decisive role – regardless of whet her AIS or GIS
level t echnology is used.

The system approach on grid


level is indispensable to obtain meaningf ul results. On the one hand, it conf irms that the
total contribution of power distribution grids to the global warming potential in Germany is
very low. On the other hand, ohmic losses are clearly identif ied as the main determinant
of this contribution to global warming potential.

Consequently, the dif f erences between the switchgear technologies are marginal
compared to the signif icant ohmic losses f rom cables, transmission lines and
transf ormers. For this reason alone, regulations aimed at switchgear will not accomplish
any relevant climatic protection potential.
Switchgear
level
However, if a
detailed
investigation is
made at switchgear
level a comparison
of air-insulated
(AIS) and SF6-
insulated (GIS)
technologies shows
the advantages of
the SF6-GIS
T he f igure shows an overview of t he environment al impact cat egories
technology in
t hat were examined in t he st udy at swit chgear level. It is based on a
regard to primary represent at ive mix of all swit chgear t ypes in t he medium-volt age range on
energy demand, t he basis of a ZVEI delivery st at ist ic. Clear advant ages f or SF6-insulat ed
acidif ication (GIS) compared t o air-insulat ed swit chgear (AIS) are also shown in regard
potential (acid t o global warming pot ent ial (GWP).
rain),
eutrophication
potential (over-f ertilisation) and global warming potential (GWP). It has been shown that
the determining f actors impacting on the global warming potential are in f act the
electrical loads in the grid and the switchgear. The current trend towards higher capacity
utilisation of the grids increases the advantages of SF6-insulated switchgear. Thus, to
accomplish any signif icant climatic protection potential it would appear that load
management in grids would be more promising than a f urther optimisation of switchgear
design.

In principle the results of this lif e cycle assessment can be transf erred to other European
countries. A sensitivity analysis shows that the selection of primary energy carriers used
f or electricity generation, as the most signif icant regional f actor, only has a minor ef f ect
on the results.

Top

Conclusion
The lif e cycle assessment study presented here demonstrates the advantages of SF6-
insulated (GIS) compared to air-insulated switchgear (AIS) at a switchgear level. The
switchgear themselves, however, only make a very minor contribution to global warming
potential. The design and capacity utilisation of the power distribution grids have a much
greater inf luence, regardless of whether AIS or GIS technology is used. Theref ore, bans
and application restrictions on the use of SF6-insulated medium-voltage switchgear
cannot be justif ied f rom an ecological point of view.
Consequently, regulations aimed at switchgear and components will not make any
signif icant contribution towards climate protection.

Rather, grid operators f or whom also other criteria such as economic ef f iciency and
personal saf ety are relevant should be given f reedom of choice when selecting
switchgear technology.

RESOURCE: SF6-GIS-Technology f or Power Distribution – Medium Voltage – Lif e Cycle


Assessement

You might also like