Table 1: SF6 contaminants; main origins, deteriorating effects, maximum tolerable

levels in equipment, proposed maximum tolerable impurity levels for reuse of

reclaimed SF6, and practical impurity detection sensitivities.
Proposed
Maximum Practical
maximum
Deteriorating tolerable impurity
Contaminant Main origin tolerable
effects impurity levels detection
impurity levels
in equipment sen
sit ivity
for reuse
Non-reactive
gases: Reduction of
Air Handling switching
perform ance
3% vol 3% vol total < 1% vol
Reduction of
CF4 Switching insu lation
perform ance
Reactive gases
or vapours:

SF4, WF6 Arcing Toxicity 100 ppmv ~ 10 ppmv

1
50 ppmv total )
total
SOF4, SO2F2 Partial Surface
discharge insulation by
SOF2, SO2, HF Follow-up corrosion 2000 ppmv
reactions
Moisture pH2O< 150 Pa
(Td < -15 °C)
Surface
Desorption
insulation by 2 750 ppmv for 4
from surfaces pH2O<400Pa ) 3 < 10 Pa )
liquid p < 200 kPa )
and polymers
condensation
200 ppmv for
3
p < 850 kPa )
Oil Pumps,
lubrication, Surface
3 5 3
bushings to oil insulation by not quantified 10 mg/m ) < 1 mg/m
insulated carbonisation
equipment
Dust
Carbon Arcing, partial
discharges Surface
insulation by Should be
Assembling, conducting removed by dust
Dust/particles mechanical deposits, gas Not quantified filter of pore size
wear and surf ace < 1 m
insu lation
Switching dust: Contact
CuF2, WOxFy, erosion by
arcing

1) or, equivalently, 12 ppmv SO2 + SOF2, see Appendix 2, Section 2.

o
2) Based on IEC 60694 and corresponding to a dew point of Td = -5 C.
3) Within the complete range of reuse pressures p < 850 kPa, covering all possible applications (both HV
and MV insulation systems as well as all circuit breakers), the low reuse pressure range p < 200 kPa has
been defined to highlight low pressure insulation systems (typically applied in MV distribution).
o
4) corresponding to a dew point Td = –45 C
5) Corres ponding to 0.3 ppmw in pure SF6 at 500 kPa

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