Green Gas for Grid as an Eco-Friendly Alternative Insulation Gas to SF6: A Review

Abstract

This paper deals with a review of the state-of-the-art performance investigations of green gas for grid (g3) gas, which is an emerging eco-friendly alternative insulation gas for sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) that will be used in gas-insulated power facilities for reducing environmental concerns. The required physical and chemical properties of insulation gas for high-voltage applications are discussed, including dielectric strength, arc-quenching capability, heat dissipation, boiling point, vapor pressure, compatibility, and environmental and safety requirements. Current studies and results on AC, DC, and lightning impulse breakdown voltage, as well as the partial discharge of g3 gas, are provided, which indicate an equivalent dielectric strength of g3 gas with SF6 after a proper design change or an increase in gas pressure. The switching bus-transfer current test, temperature rise test, and liquefaction temperature calculation also verify the possibility of replacing SF6 with g3 gas. In addition, the use of g3 gas significantly reduces theabovementioned environmental concerns in terms of global warming potential and atmosphere lifetime. In recent years, g3 gas-insulated power facilities, including switchgear, transmission line, circuit breaker, and transformer, have been commercially available in the electric power industry.