g³ heralds a new technological era in the T&D field
09/17/2015 - 11.40 am
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A more environmentally friendly alternative to SF6 in power equipment is a breakthrough. But developing products incorporating such a brand new technology is another matter – one that requires considerable effort and exhaustive testing. That is now showing results, with two g3-compatible products to date: current transformers and gas-insulated busbars.
When the g3 gas mixture was announced last August during the CIGRE 2014 session as an alternative to SF6, it was a major step in an effort to dramatically reduce the SF6-engendered part of the carbon footprint of high voltage equipment. The next step is to make products available using the new gas mixture. This is what GE Renewable Energy's Grid Solutions business is now doing.
Although SF6 has undeniable qualities – its arc quenching and dielectric insulation capabilities – its global warming potential (GWP) is 23,500 times that of CO2, with a lifetime in the atmosphere of over 3,000 years. Hence the urge to replace it in HV equipment. Two candidates were chosen as “pioneers” in which to replace their SF6 insulation by the g3 gas mixture: a 245 kV current transformer (CT) and a 420 kV gas-insulated busbar (GIB). Both were selected because customers were keen to validate their feasibility with a view to installing them, and some customers are participating in pilot projects.