What is a dielectric gas?
Dielectric gas is a form of gas used in industrial applications as an electrical insulator. Common types of gases include air, nitrogen and hexafluoride sulfur. Different types of electrical components, such as transformers and circuit breakers, require the presence of dielectric gas to prevent damage to the circuit in the event of an electrical discharge. In routine applications, air is often a dielectric gas because it does not require a pressure, closed system and is ubiquitous.
The type of dielectric gas used to a large extent depends on the level of the device and circuit voltage, as well as on the basic properties of gas, such as its inert chemical nature and thermal properties such as boiling point and the ability to transfer heat. It is also necessary to consider the level of toxicity and burnt -weaken of dielectric gas under certain conditions. Electric short circuit can cause the component, such as a high -voltage transformer, physically deteriorating to the point of the gas gas is released into the surrounding environment. For this reason withE often use air and nitrogen gases because they are largely inert and unreactive.
sulfuric hexafluoride is used as a dielectric gas in a high -cost switchboard, such as industrial circuit breakers that connect generators with an increased voltage transformer. It is also used in areas of high -voltage electric energy system that require gas insulators such as transmission lines, transformers and wiring. Approximately 80% of all sulfur hexafluorides produced are commonly used in electric power plants and distribution sites around the world because of its excellent insulating properties and the ability to suppress the transmission of radio wool and sound waves from electrical equipment. It also has the highest decomposition level for any insulating gas, which is the level of voltage necessary for dielectric gas to start performing current and not act as an insulator.
disadvantages of using hexafHowever, luoride sulfur as a dielectric gas are significant, and for this reason, attempts to combine it with safer gases such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide or perfluorocarbon compounds are made. It is estimated that sulfur hexafluoride is 22,800 to 23,900 times more contributing to global warming, when it relaxes into the atmosphere compared to the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide. In the atmosphere, it also lasts as a stable greenhouse gas much longer than other greenhouse gases, which lasts 800 to 3 200 years to deteriorate. The compound also represents serious health risks in human exposure, such as causing breathing problems, and often combines with other compounds when released into the air that can lead to contamination of fluoride body and various problems.