Gas integrity and adsorbent performance in an SF/sub 6/ circuit breaker after test duty

Abstract

A quality assessment of the SF/sub 6/ insulating gas in a circuit breaker following test duty was performed. In addition, exploratory research was undertaken to characterize the performance of adsorbent materials in relation to by-product dynamics. Gas samples were analyzed and revealed decomposition up to 16%. The usual by-products were identified; SOF/sub 2/ and SO/sub 2/ had the highest concentrations. Thermal desorption of the contaminated molecular sieve was successfully achieved. The thermally desorbed gaseous products correlated with the usual SF/sub 6/ by-products which resulted from arcing.<>