Spark decomposition of SF/sub 6/

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · IEEE Trans. Power Del.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/61.32641· OSTI ID:5685762

Griffin, G D; Sauers, I; Kurka, K; Easterly, C E

Gas-insulated systems employing SF/sub 6/ are utilized in a variety of applications in power delivery systems. Because electric arcs, sparks or corona can decompose SF/sub 6/ into by-products having chemical properties different from SF/sub 6/, environmental concerns arise regarding inadvertent human exposures to electrically-decomposed SF/sub 6/. Biological assays in our laboratory using mammalian cell culture systems have revealed that SF/sub 6/, spark-decomposed under specific experimental conditions, can produce cell death. Chemical analysis of spark-decomposed SF/sub 6/ has identified the major decomposition pathways and by-products. Biological testing of individual by-products or by-product mixtures has indicated that these major decomposition products may not account for the majority of the cell killing effects seen in our assays. Further experiments have suggested that S/sub 2/F/sub 10/ may be produced and accumulate under our specific decomposition conditions and that this compound may be a major contributor to the observed cell lethality. On the basis of the biological activity the authors have observed in our spark-decomposed SF/sub 6/ samples, testing of samples from commercial facilities and assays of decomposed gas after ameliorative treatments would both be appropriate investigations.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA). Health and Safety Research Div.
• OSTI ID: 5685762
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Power Del.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Power Del.; (United States) Vol. 4:3; ISSN ITPDE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200200* -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Waste Management
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603 -- Materials-- Properties
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BY-PRODUCTS
CELL KILLING
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
CURRENTS
DATA
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRICAL INSULATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON FLUORIDES