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Sectors Specific Informations

F-GAS-REGULATION IMPACT ON MANUFACTURERS AND USERS OF SF6-ELECTRIC POWER EQUIPMENT

In the F-Gas Regulation, SF₆ is considered in some of the articles only. The use of SF₆ in electric power equipment is permitted. A number of measures required of manufacturers and users have to be implemented.

Relevant articles for SF₆electric power equipment are listed :

Article 2 "Definitions" - Meaning for SF₆-handling
..Recovery : Collection and storage, means in practice : taking out SF₆ from equipment and putting it into a container
..Recycling : Reuse of recovered SF₆means in practice : recycling of SF₆ on site
..Reclamation : Reprocessing of recovered SF₆ means in practice : used SF₆ is reprocessed (for ex in an SF₆-production plant), consistent with existing IEC practices *
..Destruction : Transformation or destruction means in practice : burning SF₆
*) Standards IEC 60376 "Specification of technical grade sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) for use in electrical equipment" and IEC 60480 "Guidelines for the checking and treatment of sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) taken from electrical equipment and specification for its re-use"

Article 4 "Recovery" : Recovery only by certified staff

The optimized gas recovery requires "State of the Art" equipment

Manufacturers
For individual activities, a certificate is necessary.
SF₆-handling processes are described -based on IEC 62271-303 (2008) (and CIGRÉ No 276/2005 SF₆-handling, IEEE P1712/D1 guide for SF₆-handling)

For the processing and handling, NO Certificate is necessary

Users
A certificate is necessary, either for one's own staff, or by contracting OEM or service companies with certified personal

SF₆-handling at high voltage switchgear : maintenance, service, end-of-life of equipment

Article 5 "Training and certification" : Following (EC) 305/2008 on definitions, minimum requirement on certification of staff
Minimum requirements have to be known by technicians, and must be tested by an evaluation body

(a) theoretical test with one or more questions testing that skill or knowledge
(b) practical test where the applicant shall perform the corresponding task with the relevant material, tools and equipment

 

Article 6 „Reporting" following (EC) 1493/2007 on definitions, format of reporting
For utilities it is usually not relevant.

The reporting is a must to do in case of SF₆> 1 t in container or bottles, for Import from outside the EU, or Export outside the EU.

The reporting is not necessary for internal EU transfers, for SF₆ in equipment or for quantities < 1 t per year and company.

In some countries additional voluntary commitments regarding reporting exist.

Article 7 „Labelling" following (EC) 1494/2007 on definitions, form of labels

Standards required SF6-weight already in the past (weight of gas according to IEEE C37.122 or IEC 62271-203). An additional label is required "contains the fluorinated greenhouse gas SF6 covered by the Kyoto Protocol"

The instruction manual must also contain a specific note worded "This equipment contains the fluorinated greenhouse gas SF₆ covered by the Kyoto Protocol and with a global warming potential (GWP) 22 200. SF₆ shall be recovered and not released into the atmosphere. For further information on use and handling of SF₆ please refer to IEC 62271-303: High-voltage switchgear and control gear -Part 303 Use and handling of sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆)"

Source: http://www.epa.gov/highgwp/electricpower-sf6/documents/conf09_siemens.pdf