Deployment of the g3 gas mixture as a replacement for SF6 has taken a major step forward: the F35-145 kV gas-insulated substation (GIS) is now SF6-free too. It has the same physical footprint as its SF6-based GIS predecessor and can operate at ambient temperatures as low as -25 °C.
It was just two years ago that GE announced a breakthrough in developing a substitute for SF6 in gas-insulated equipment. Such a substitute had become necessary because SF6, despite its undeniable qualities—its arc-quenching and dielectric capabilities—has a global warming potential (GWP) 23,500 times that of CO2, with a lifetime in the atmosphere of over 3,000 years. With g3, a fluoronitrile and CO2 gas mixture, GE was able to develop a suitable operational alternative with a GWP brought down by 98% compared with SF6.
g³ as an electrical insulation and switching medium
First, the gas mixture properties, behavior and capabilities required for use as an alternative insulation and switching gas were investigated (read Think Grid article on g3 properties). Research was then made on material compatibility to identify the adaptations that would be needed in high voltage equipment.
Material compatibility with g³
In gaseous state, the fluoronitrile contained in g3 is compatible with most of the metals and hard plastics used in HV equipment. For example, gas in contact with copper, aluminum, brass, nickel, steel or stainless steel for several months at elevated temperature (120 °C) shows no change in purity.
Particular attention was then paid to the gasket material: permeation of the gaskets for CO2/fluoronitrile mixtures was investigated in accordance with ISO 2782-1:2012. EPDM is a typical elastomer used as gasket material in SF6-filled HV equipment. The combination of its material properties, together with the gasket design, allows gas-insulated substations to be reliably gas-tight during their entire lifetime and meet the maximum allowed leakage rate of 0.5% per compartment and per year, as specified in IEC 62271-203. As the CO2molecule is much smaller than that of SF6, standard EPDM was found not to be the most appropriate rubber material to ensure a low permeation rate for a g3 gasket. A variation of butyl rubber, an elastomer material widely used in the automotive industry for tires, was successfully tested. Test results clearly showed that the permeation rate of the g3 mixture was suitable. Beyond that, the new gasket material was qualified to withstand environmental stresses such as heat, humidity and ozone.
In the meantime, several “pioneer” products have been developed with g3 as the insulation medium, with the active support of several TSOs committed to environment-friendly power grids. These products are:
Gas-insulated line project with g3 at Sellindge UKVoltage withstand and temperature rise
Voltage withstand tests were performed on individual components as well as on the fully equipped bay.
The lower dielectric performance of the g3 mixture, compared with SF6, is easily mitigated by a higher filling pressure, set at 7 bar (relative). This pressure level allows the GIS to operate with no heating at temperatures down to -25 °C.
Temperature rise tests were performed on a fully equipped bay. The test results showed that the g3 mixture has a slightly lower performance than SF6, though better than pure CO2. The difference has been compensated for by design modifications.
Switching by disconnector and earthing switch
Several tests were carried out to verify the switching characteristics of the g3mixture. The results of the bus-transfer current switching tests at 1600 A/10 V showed that the mean arcing times using g3 and SF6 are almost identical for the tested slow-moving disconnector, with a slightly higher standard deviation with g3. In the end, both gases perform quite similarly. In addition to the 1600 A/10 V tests, the performance at 80% of the nominal current (2520 A/10 V) was successfully validated.
Bus-charging tests and capacitive switching tests were also performed—with successful results—on the combined disconnector/earthing switch. Furthermore, electrostatically induced current making and breaking tests were performed on an encapsulated make-proof earthing switch (fast-moving switch) by an independent laboratory. The results showed that the arcing times and contacts were identical for g3 and SF6.
David Gautschi, Manager of Technical Services at GE Grid Solutions, explains: “These results show that the existing disconnectors and switches require only minor modifications to operate perfectly well on the 145 kV GIS with g3.”
Circuit breaker
The development of g3 technology began with a live tank circuit breaker for application in air-insulated substations. All the necessary type tests were successfully completed on prototypes and this experience served as input for the g3 GIS circuit breaker.
Simulation tools were used to simulate arc-quenching and flow behavior with g3. The 2D CFD code was used for numerical simulations of the electric arc. A 1D macroscopic tool, AMASIS, was used to predict pressures, mass flows and arc voltage, helping to optimize the design of the circuit-breaker chamber. To date, AMASIS has produced calculations for both SF6 and g3. The results are positive, especially in calculating the arc voltage. Gautschi adds: “The process is self-feeding: the more results we have, the more precise we will be, and so the more g3 breakers we test, the better AMASIS accuracy will become.”
The data from the 1D and 2D simulations are then used as input for 3D flow calculations, in particular to assess the quantity, direction and temperature of hot gas in the tank. “This allows us to assess hot gas flows, particularly during three-phase operations.”
The breaking performance of the g3 gas mixture is largely influenced by its CO2 content. Compared with SF6, CO2 is a small molecule with a lower thermal breaking performance. The size of the CO2 molecule influences the gas flow and significantly diminishes the pressure build-up inside the arcing chamber. With adaptations to the heart of the chamber, it is possible to keep enough pressure in the thermal volume during the full arcing window. Tests on an adapted chamber have shown successful results in all relevant test duties, such as terminal faults, short-line faults and capacitive switching tests. The size of the adapted chamber is comparable to existing SF6 self-blast chambers.
A g³-ready GIS
To adapt the existing F35-145 kV GIS to the new gas mixture, the test and simulation results showed that some adaptations were needed—mainly to the circuit-breaker chamber—to produce equivalent arc-quenching performance. For instance, the compression volume, some valves and some of the gas flow channels have been adapted.
However, the main housing and footprint of the g3-GIS have the same dimensions as its SF6 predecessor. It thus remains the most compact GIS on the market.
It is also possible to fill gas-insulated lines, bushings and transformer connections with the same gas. Since ambient temperature can be as low as -25 °C, outdoor installation is perfectly possible.
With g3, based on a full life-cycle evaluation, the CO2 footprint of gas losses is cut by 98%. Taking the entire substation into account, more than 50% of the CO2 footprint can be saved. GE’s F35-145 kV GIS therefore offers today the lowest CO2 footprint of any 145 kV GIS in the world.
g³ tools and handling
A new gas also means new tools. Gas monitoring and handling equipment has been developed or adapted in parallel with the work on the switchgear itself.
g3 monitoring
Gas monitoring is done with g3 as it was with SF6. Traditional sensors (temperature-compensated pressure switches) have only to be adapted to the updated pressure. Digital sensors for on-line monitoring do not require changes; just the software needs updating according to the physical properties of the g3 mixture.
Digital density sensor
g3 quality check
GE has worked closely with gas equipment suppliers to develop quality checking equipment. This equipment accurately measures the gas composition (CO2 and NovecTM percentages) and the gas humidity.
g3 gas quality monitoring
g3 delivery
Gas handling is made very easy for the customer. The mixing of NovecTM 4710 and CO2 is carried out by a qualified GE Grid Solutions partner. The g3 is therefore delivered to the site already mixed in bottles in a liquid pressurized state—as for SF6—ready to be used with the help of a gas-handling cart.
g3 bottles delivery
g3 handling
Filling is done directly from the bottle containing the g3 mixture, using a new, specifically developed gas-filling device. The standard SF6 device was not suitable, so GE worked closely with gas equipment suppliers to develop a dedicated g3-filling cart.
The key difference between g3 and SF6 is that g3 is a gas mixture while SF6 is a single gas. Elodie Laruelle, GE Grid Solutions Eco-design Engineer, explains: “The critical point for a gas mixture is to maintain the homogeneity of the two components (NovecTM and CO2) throughout the filling process. To ensure this homogeneity, the filling equipment needs to directly heat up the g3 bottle to a specific temperature, to reach the supercritical state of the gas mixture. In this way the mixture becomes homogenous, which results in the filling of the correct gas ratio in the GIS compartment.
g3 bottle heating system
One of the challenges was to develop a software solution that checks the entire process to maintain the right conditions (temperature and pressure inside the bottle) and to ensure homogeneity of the final gas mixture.”
g3 Filling cart | g3 Recorvery cart
g3 recycling
In parallel, development of solutions for g3 recycling is ongoing with a number of partners. The target is to use g3 in a closed loop as is already the case for SF6. “However, for g3, the process is more challenging since it is a gas mixture,” explains Yannick Kieffel, GE Grid Solutions Senior Expert, Materials and Eco-Design Manager. “Besides removal of the by-products, we have two main options under investigation: either to reuse the gas and keep the ratio of the original gas; or separate the components and subsequently re-mix them for further use. We already have long-term experience with gas mixtures, such as N2/SF6 or CF4/SF6, so a similar process is foreseen.”
