non-SF6 breakers

[stevenal]

I've been reading lately about moving away from SF6. Anyone have any experience yet with these designs? My application is outdoor, dead front, 72 kV. Thanks.

 

[marks1080]

Been hearing a lot about this myself... Considering how much SF6 infrastructure has been installed in the past couple decades it's hard to believe.

I think it's worth looking into vacuum breaker technology. Last time i looked they seemed pretty good at about the 30kV mark. This was many years ago. I've heard the technology has come a long way and I wouldn't be surprised if there was a good vacuum breaker/switch at 72kV with a decent current rating. I don't have any firsthand experience with them so I apologize if I'm sending you down a bad road.

 

[JJ_Roy]

Here's a replacement gas for SF6. I don't have any experience with it though.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/novec-us/applications/insulating-gas/

 

[FrozenE-]

Hitachi and I think Siemens has 72.5 class dead tank breakers available in vacuum. Not sure if anyone else does (yet). We've been keeping a bit of an eye on the 3M Novec stuff, which is what GE is marketing as their g3 technology, but aren't anywhere near purchasing any.

 

[Zogzog]

VI tech has come a long way

 

[FPelec]

Siemens already sells 72.5 kV vacuum circuit breakers, both for AIS (3AV1) and GIS (8VN1) applications, up to 31.5 kA breaking current.
We are currently testing them.
Also ALSTOM (now GE) produces a 72.5 kV vacuum circuit breaker (VL109), but I don't know if it is already commercially available.
ABB has instead developed a 72.5 kV - 31.5 kA AIS, live-tank, circuit breaker (LTA 72D1) which uses CO2 as interrupting medium instead of SF6; this product is already commercially available.


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