Spark decomposition of SF/sub 6/: Chemical and biological studies

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5746584

Griffen, 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 byproducts 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 spark-decomposed SF/sub 6/ produces cell death, and the extent of cell killing increases with increasing spark energy. Chemical analysis of spark-decomposed SF/sub 6/ has identified the major decomposition pathways and byproducts, but biological testing of individual or byproduct mixtures has indicated that these major decomposition products do not contribute, in a significant fashion, to the cell lethality seen in our assays. Further experiments have suggested that S/sub 2/F/sub 10/ may be produced under our decomposition conditions and that this compound may be a major contributor to the observed cell lethality. We have initiated testing of the genotoxic activity of spark-decomposed SF/sub 6/ using a biological mutation assay, and have so far obtained equivocal results, although some samples have produced a positive result. 27 refs., 4 figs., 4 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5746584
• Report Number(s): CONF-880102-1; ON: DE87014071
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

200300* -- Electric Power Engineering-- Power Transmission & Distribution-- (-1989)
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL INSULATORS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER SYSTEMS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR FLUORIDES
TOXICITY