104~109, 2012
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is widely used in the electrical 2.1 Gas mixture
equipments such as gas insulated switchgear (GIS) and gas
circuit breaker (GCB), due to its excellent insulation and We considered two methods to make gas mixtures. They
arc extinguishing characteristics and thermal stability. are methods by ratio of gas pressure and gas mass. The first
Despite its important advantages, SF6 gas became the focus method is to make gas mixtures by checking the gas
of environmental influence, because SF6 gas causes the pressure gauge during gas injection. This method has higher
serious green house effect by its emission in the atmosphere. error number than the second method because of human
Due to this problem, SF6 gas was classified as regulated gas errors and environmental factors such as temperature and
on Kyoto Protocol(1997) and many countries are studying atmospheric pressure. So, we used the method by ratio of
it for reduction of SF6 gas. gas mass and measured the ratio of each gas through Korea
Reduction of using SF6 gas in electrical equipments has Research Institute of Standards and Science(KRISS) for the
been going in various methods. Japanese makers developed more exact experiment.
72/84kV SF6 gas-free switchgear using dry air and solid
insulation. [4] Korean makers are also developing the Table. 1 The ratio analysis result of gas mixtures
product using them. And studying about gas insulated line Ratio Manufacturer KRISS
(GIL) using SF6/N2 gas mixture rated 20:80 are active by 20% (SF6 gas) 20.01% 19.92%
50% (SF6 gas) 49.92% 49.52%
the manufacturer. It is already developed up to 550kV GIL.
LS cable corporation are testing the long-term overvoltage
test after developing 362kV GIL in Korea. [3] 2.2 Test setup in uniform and non-uniform field
In this paper, we will report the test result and the design
criteria for SF6/N2 gas mixtures through studying on Fig. 1 shows layouts of lightning impulse voltage test
insulation properties of 2 kinds of SF6/N2 gas mixture and AC withstand voltage test. We measured the breakdown
(50%SF6_50%N2,20%SF6_80%N2) as a basic step for voltage using the up and down method with 5kV step. LI
developing environmental friendly products. breakdown voltage was measured 15 times and AC
breakdown voltage was 10 times every case.
Fig. 2 shows the shape of each electrode with radius of 2,
† Corresponding Author: Switchgear Research Team, R&D Center, 5, 8, and 25 mm. All electrodes are made of aluminium.
Hyosung Corporation, Korea (wdcvgy@hyosung.com)
* Switchgear Research Team, R&D Center, Hyosung Corporation,
Korea (wdcvgy@hyosung.com)
Received: December 26, 2011; Accepted: December 28, 2011
Su-Youl Woo, Dong-Hoon Jeong, Kyoung-Bo Seo and Jin-Ho Kim 105
3. Result
and the progress of leader pulse. So, the breakdown voltage utilization factor(η) was used as comparing data under tests.
is decreased. On the other hand, the breakdown voltage is
increased by corona stabilization effect in positive
polarity.[5]
Fig.6. The comparison of 50% breakdown voltage between 3.4 GIS model test
polarities (1) 20%, 10mm gap (2) 20%, 30mm gap
Fig. 8 are the layout and the sections of GIS model for
3.3 Electric field utilization factor testing. We performed the electric field simulation before
test and could predict the weak points of each section. Fig.
We derived the electric field utilization factor(η) of 9 and Fig. 10 show the weak points under simulation and
various electrode shape through the test result applied the the flashover points under test and the position of each
confidence level of 95%. The electric field utilization point was similar. We measured the breakdown voltage
factor(η) is presented a ratio of mean electric field and using the up and down method with 10kV step. The
maximum electric field as a calculated result about the breakdown voltage was measured 15 times every case.
electric field strength and distribution. The factor(η) is
independent of the voltage and is determined by the shape
and the arrangement of electrode. So, the electric field
utilization factor of the similar electrode arrangements
should be almost same. The value of each factor(η) is 1 in
the uniform field and 0<η<1 in the non-uniform field.[2]
Fig. 7 show graphs of calculated factor(η) using Eq. 2.
η = Emean/Emax (2)
Fig. 8. The layout and the sections of GIS model.
Emean: Mean electric field
Emax : Maximum electric field The breakdown voltage of each SF6 gas mixture was
measured up to 120% of rated voltage (1050kV). The
Next, we performed insulation tests about SF6 gas mixtures breakdown voltage of 50% SF6 gas mixture is about 8~12%
under an earthing switch section and a disconnecting switch higher than 20% SF6 gas mixture, although each ratio of gas
section of 245kV GIS. The graphs of electric field pressure is different. (Fig. 11) The slope of 50% breakdown
108 A Study on Dielectric Strength and Insulation Property of SF6/N2 Mixtures for GIS
voltage according to gas pressure is similar to the test Through the analysis of the test data and the electric field
results between electrodes. Negative breakdown voltages utilization factor in uniform field and non-uniform field, we
are also lower than positive breakdown voltages. could calculate the breakdown strength of SF6 gas mixtures.
And it was verified by GIS model test and was finally used
make the design criteria about SF6 gas mixtures shown Fig. 12.
4. Conclusion
Fig. 10. The flashover points under test.
This study is performed to make the insulation design
criteria about mixtures of SF6 gas and N2 gas, as the
fundamental step to develop the environmental friendly
product of HV class level.