Weather of Arabia - Have you heard about the gas that has a great potential to cause global warming? Sulfur hexafluoride, also known as SF6 , has thousands of times more warming effect than carbon dioxide, and is widely used in high-power electrical equipment for electrical insulation purposes.
With Korean researchers announcing the development of an environmentally friendly alternative to this gas, it seems that the end of the use of SF6 is near, as the new alternative has the same electrical insulation properties, which raises hope for the complete elimination of SF6 and contributing to reducing global warming. This discovery is considered an important step towards using technology. Environmentally friendly in the field of electricity and achieving sustainable development.
Many may not be familiar with SF6 , which is a colorless, odorless, non-toxic, non-flammable synthetic gas that has unique properties that are useful in industrial applications. It is widely used in high-power electrical equipment to insulate electrical current, such as transformers and switches. And electrical circuit breakers.
On the other hand, SF6 is considered one of the most powerful greenhouse gases, as its warming effect is thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide. This means that the effect of one kilogram of this gas is equivalent to the effect of more than 25 tons of carbon dioxide. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), SF6 emissions are clearly increasing, which is linked to its increasing proportion in the atmosphere.
The catastrophic environmental effects of SF6 pose a major challenge, as it remains in the atmosphere for a long period of more than 3,200 years. This means that current emissions will continue to affect the environment for several thousand years, and highlights the urgent need to take immediate measures to reduce emissions and search for... More sustainable alternatives.
Despite global efforts to develop environmentally friendly alternatives to SF6 , the challenges remain significant, necessitating the need for innovation and dedication to reach environmentally friendly and more sustainable solutions.
In an impressive advance, researchers from the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) have developed an “environmentally friendly insulating gas” that aims to replace sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas in high-power electrical equipment. The new gas, called “K6,” has the same properties. Electrically insulating, but without the catastrophic environmental impact.
According to the institute, the process of developing “K6” included classification of materials with low global warming capacity currently used, and analysis of their electrical and chemical properties. Materials were selected based on their insulating performance and flammability, and the optimal proportions for the new gas design were determined.
K6 is characterized by its absence of toxic or harmful components, and is superior in its ability to cause global warming to SF6. Its boiling point is very low (-26 degrees Celsius), which makes it exceptional for use in different areas. The gas has passed tests on electrical circuit breakers with high voltage. High (145 kV), according to IEC standards.
Head of the Research Center at KERI, Dr. Yun Ho Oh, pointed out that “K6” outperforms SF6, and is considered an important step towards making high-power devices more sustainable and less impactful on the environment.
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Sources:
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