Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is the most potent greenhouse gas known and its concentration in the atmosphere is increasing rapidly. It is primarily used as an electrical insulator in high-voltage equipment due to its non-toxicity and ability to prevent the flow of electricity. Approximately 80% of SF6 produced is used by the electric power industry. The EPA recommends leak detection and repair as the most cost-effective way to reduce SF6 emissions from the electricity industry, which could lower emissions by 20%. Employee education on proper SF6 management practices could further reduce emissions by 10%.

2. Sulfur
Hexafluoride
By Joe Alaniz
Environmental & Sustainability Design
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3. Sulfur Hexafluoride
encyclopedia.com
Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6)
SF6 has a lifetime in
the atmosphere of
3,200 years
Sulfur hexafluoride (chemical
formula SF6) is a compound of sulfur
and fluorine and the most potent
greenhouse gas known.
Although SF6 is a potent greenhouse gas
and its concentration in the atmosphere
is increasing rapidly, its contribution to
global warming is much smaller than
that of the major greenhouse gases.
Because of its non-toxicity and low
reactivity, it is used for certain medical
purposes such as a contrast agent in
ultrasonic imaging.
However, its primary use is as an
electrical insulator in high-voltage
equipment. SF6 is highly resistant to the
passage of electrical current, so it serves
to keep current flowing between metal
parts at very different voltages.
It is therefore used in gas-insulated
transformer substations, switching gear
on the power grid, and high-voltage
circuit breakers. About 80% of SF6
produced worldwide is used by the
electric power industry.
EPA develops information on best
practices for managing SF6 to reduce
emissions from the electric power
industry.
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4. Sulfur Hexafluoride
encyclopedia.com
Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6)
If repairs and proper handling isn’t observed,
during its working cycle, SF6 decomposes
under electrical stress, forming toxic
byproducts that are a health threat for working
personnel in the event of exposure.
According to the EPA, the most cost-effective
options for reducing SF6 emissions in the
electricity industry are leak detection and
repair, which could reduce SF6 emissions by
the following numbers:
Problems relating to
SF 6 are not without
solution & can lead to
new opportunities.
20% Awareness 10%
Preventive Maintenance
most cost-effective options
for reducing SF6 emissions
in the electricity industry
are leak detection and
repair, which could reduce
SF6 emissions by 20%
Training
employee education and training, so that
employees understand the environmental
impact of SF6 releases and are aware of
policies for managing SF6.
Recycling Program
recycling of SF6 from
retired high-voltage
equipment, which
m i g h t r e d u c e
emissions by 10%
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5. Sulfur Hexafluoride
Works Cited:
Gilman, Larry. "Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6)." Encyclopedia.com. Encyclopedia.com,
2008. Web. 11 Apr. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.encyclopedia.com
%2Farticle-1G2-3079000241%2Fsulfur-hexafluoride-sf6.html>.
"Sulphur Hexafluoride." Pollutant Fact Sheet. SEPA, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2015.
<http://apps.sepa.org.uk/spripa/Pages/SubstanceInformation.aspx?pid=10>.
"Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6): Global Environmental Effects and Toxic Byproduct
Formation." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library
of Medicine, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2015. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
10680375>.
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