Detecting Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) Gas Factsheet - Ion Science UK (2024)

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Detecting Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) Gas Factsheet - Ion Science UK (1)

Sulfur hexafluorideDetecting Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) Gas Factsheet - Ion Science UK (2)

Formula: SF6 | CAS: 2551-62-4

Detecting sulfur hexafluoride: SF6 the most powerful greenhouse gas emissions known to humanity which have alarmingly risen rapidly in recent years!

A health and environmental risk, using SF6 on a day to day basics

Cheap and non-flammable, SF6 is a colourless, odourless, synthetic gas. It makes a hugely effective insulating material for medium and high-voltage electrical installations.

It is widely used across the electrical industries, from large power stations to wind turbines to electrical sub-stations in towns and cities. It prevents electrical accidents and fires.

“SF6 world production was at 7,000 tons in 1993 and was expected to reach 10,000 metric tons per year by 2010. The electrical industries use approximately 80% of that amount. In 2002, SF6 emissions from the US electric power industry totalled nearly 600 metric tons, that equates to 14.1-million tons of CO2, or 5% of total greenhouse gas emissions from US industrial processes”.
– Grand View Research

Monitoring of SF6, how damaging to the climate is SF6?

SF6 in its pure state is inert, colourless, tasteless, non-flammable and nontoxic. It is heavier than air, and can accumulate in cable trenches, pits and tunnels. A volume greater than 19% in the air may cause asphyxiation. An appropriate risk assessment should be undertaken in order to determine if cable trenches/tunnels are classified as confined spaces, in which case appropriate control measures for access must be implemented.

Identifying SF6 exposure and the important’s of why detecting sulfur hexafluoride early is critical

Under normal circ*mstances, it might be considered rare to be exposed to SF6 without enough oxygen dilution; but for utility employees, this type of exposure is well within the normal course of duties when working on SF6 filled switchgear in enclosed spaces. Indeed, if a substantial quantity of SF6 gas leaks in an enclosed area, it can pose a real danger of asphyxiation to personnel

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Everything you need to know about detecting sulfur hexafluoride

Our Gas Factsheets which is available to download below provides you with key information on the exposure limits and the locations of where potentially harmful gases can occur. We also share information on gas detection monitoring techniques and equipment that can help you manage gas detection in the workplace, for worker and site safety.

Detecting Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) Gas Factsheet - Ion Science UK (3)

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Detecting Sulfur hexafluoride

Formula: SF6 | CAS: 2551-62-4

Synonyms: sulfur hexafluoride, sulfur fluoride

Specification Value/Information
Formula SF6
CAS no. 2551-62-4
Gas Response Factor, 11.7 eV NA
Gas Response Factor, 10.6 eV ZR
Gas Response Factor, 10.0 eV ZR
ppm per mg/m⁻³, (20 °C, 1 bar) 0.165
Molecular Weight, g/mole 146.1
Boiling point, °C -64
Flash point, °C -
Lower Explosive Limit, % -
Specification Value/Information
Density, g.cm⁻³ 6.409
Ionisation Energy, eV 19.3
EH40 TWA, ppm 1000
EH40 TWA, mg.m⁻³ 6070
EH40 STEL, ppm 1250
EH40 STEL, mg.m⁻³ 7590
NIOSH TWA REL, ppm 1000
NIOSH TWA REL, mg.m⁻³ 6000
OSHA TWA PEL, ppm 1000
OSHA TWA PEL, mg.m⁻³ 6000

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Detecting Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) Gas Factsheet - Ion Science UK (2024)

FAQs

What is the correct name for SF6 responses? ›

Sulfur hexafluoride or sulphur hexafluoride (British spelling) is an inorganic compound with the formula SF6. It is a colorless, odorless, non-flammable, and non-toxic gas. SF6 has an octahedral geometry, consisting of six fluorine atoms attached to a central sulfur atom. It is a hypervalent molecule.

Is sulfur hexafluoride banned? ›

Ban for Uses: The F-Gas Regulation prohibits the use of fluorinated gases with high GWP in some applications where lower-GWP alternatives are available. This includes bans on the use of SF6 in certain types of new equipment.

What is SF6 gas pressure indicator? ›

This is a useful tool when precise pressure indication is required. The connecting hose for measuring devices is equipped with a self-closing coupling so that no SF6 gas can escape into the atmosphere during the testing process. The device can be transported comfortably and safely in the handy plastic case.

How do you identify sulfur gas? ›

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a colourless gas with a very pungent odour, resulting in the breather feeling like they are choking or suffocating since it is heavier than air.

What ions are in sulfur hexafluoride? ›

Its structure consists of six fluorine atoms bonded with one sulfur atom at the center. SF6 is an excellent electrical insulator and this property is exploited to manufacture transformers, used in magnesium production, electronic industries, and as a tracer of air pollution.

What does sulfur hexafluoride react with? ›

The only substantiated chemical reaction of sulphur hexafluoride is that with a hot alkali metal, reaction with a film of sodium commencing at 200° 2. The great stability of sulphur hexafluoride is kinetic rather than thermodynamic in origin since it is thermodynamically unstable with respect to water3.

Is SF6 worse than co2? ›

Protect the Environment - SF6 is the most potent greenhouse gas known. It is 23,500 times more effective at trapping infrared radiation than an equivalent amount of CO2 and stays in the atmosphere for 3,200 years.

Does SF6 smell like rotten eggs? ›

SF6 byproducts such as SOF3 and SF4 have a strong irritating “rotten egg” odor at low concentrations, and, at high concentrations, are irritating to the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs (U.S. EPA 2001; NLM 2001).

Can you smell SF6? ›

Sulfur Hexafluoride is a colorless, odorless gas. It is used in electrical circuit interrupters, electric piping, and as a gaseous insulator.

How do you detect hydrogen sulfide gas? ›

Open Path Detectors – These use a beam of infrared light to detect the presence of relatively high levels of hydrogen sulfide that may exist between two points some distance apart. These can prove useful as 'early warning' devices when monitoring a fence line or area between two buildings.

Can you smell SF6 gas? ›

Sulfur Hexafluoride is a colorless, odorless gas.

What does SF6 gas smell like? ›

Faulted SF6 gas is toxic with a pungent, irritating smell of rotten eggs. The direct “sniffing” of SF6 byproducts can be hazardous to the skin and respiratory system. Sulfur dioxide affects human health when it is breathed in (irritates the nose, throat, and airways).

Can you detect sulfur dioxide? ›

Sulfur dioxide is a colorless gas at ambient temperature and pressure. It can be detected by taste at concentrations of 0.35-1.05 ppm and has a pungent, irritating odor with an odor threshold of 0.67-4.75 ppm. It is soluble in water and forms sulfurous acid which is slowly oxidized to sulfuric acid by dissolved oxygen.

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