Detection of SF6 in transformer oil is a new service offered by OAS.
“Sulphur Hexafluoride or SF6 is used in the electrical industry as a gaseous dielectric medium for high-voltage sulfur hexafluoride circuit breakers, switchgear, and other electrical equipment, often replacing oil-filled circuit breakers (OCBs) that can contain harmful polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). SF6 gas under pressure is used as an insulator in gas insulated switchgear (GIS) because it has a much higher dielectric strength than air or dry nitrogen. The high dielectric strength is a result of the gas’s high electronegativity and density. This property makes it possible to significantly reduce the size of electrical gear. This makes GIS more suitable for certain purposes such as indoor placement, as opposed to air-insulated electrical gear, which takes up considerably more room.”
Where seals between the SF6 gas-filled and oil-filled circuits begin to fail, the gas may ingress into the oil. At Oil Analysis Services we are able to help detect ingress of SF6 into transformer oil via FTIR spectroscopy. Please get in touch if you would like a quotation.