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Monitoring of Circuit Breakers using Ion Mobility Spectrometry to detect SF6-

Decomposition

Article · January 1999

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 Monitoring of Circuit Breakers using Ion Mobility Spectrometry to
detect SF6-Decomposition

J.I. Baumbach1, P. Pilzecker2, E. Trindade3

1
Institut für Spektrochemie und Angewandte Spektroskopie, Bunsen-Kirchhoff-Str.11,
D-44139 Dortmund, Germany
2
G.A.S. Gesellschaft für Analytische Sensorsysteme mbH, Emil-Figge-Str. 76-80,
D-44227 Dortmund, Germany
3
Laboratório Central de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento COPEL/UFPR, C.P.318,
CEP 80001-970, Curitiba, PR, Brazil

Dedicated to Prof. Dr. D. Klockow on the occasion of his 65th Birthday

Abstract artificially produced SF6 are discussed10-17. The

In high-voltage systems insulated with SF6
electrical discharges as partial discharges,
sparks or arcs cause SF6 decomposition
leading to the formation of some toxic and
corrosive by-products. There is an urgent need
for more information on the origins and
quantities of contaminants expected to arise
from the use of SF6 filled electrical power
equipment. A low resolution ion mobility
spectrometer used as analysis instrument
delivers a shift of the position of the main peak
obtained. This shift is correlated to the
concentration of decomposition products
formed in SF6. This paper presents the results
of investigations on the fill gas in circuit
breakers in gas insulated substations during
operation and of the reclaimed gas after a
recycling procedure. Results from the
investigation of 36 different circuit breakers in
an operating substation are presented, which
can lead to new methods to check the fill gas
quality.
Introduction
In the last 30 years the use of SF6 insulated
switchgears in high voltage substations has
increased considerably. This is due to their
enhanced lifetime, reduced required area and
volume and longer maintenance cycles4-6. Very
high standards in the engineering and
manufacturing result in the high reliability of
these substations. However, in long term
operation failures still arise which may lead to
severe damage and additional repair costs1,3,9.
Also, problems with toxic and corrosive
decomposition products and the potential
greenhouse gas effect arising from the
basic physical and chemical properties of SF6,
its behaviour under various types of discharges
and simulations of different types of equipment
used in electric power industry have been
broadly investigated14-16. Due to its efficient
infrared absorption and chemical inertness,
SF6 contributes to the stratospheric ozone
depletion. The technical and scientific
community and international associations such
as CIGRÉ (International Conference on Large
High Voltage Electric Systems) have discussed
the need for regulations relating to SF6
handling, the use of new mixtures, as well as
recycling or re-use procedures. There is no
doubt, that more information is needed on the
origins and the amounts of the contaminants in
the SF6 used in electrical power equipment.
Purity standards for fresh and reclaimed SF6,
as well as methods to check the gas quality are
also required. Hence, the establishment of a
diagnostic tool, which allows the on-site and
on-line analysis of the insulating gas contained
in the gas insulated switchgear (GIS) is of
considerable interest.
Ion mobility spectrometry is a technique
designed for sensitive environmental
monitoring using low cost, rugged and highly
mobile instruments. Using this technique to
supervise the insulating gas in GIS during
operation offers the opportunity of event-based
maintenance2,18,20-22.
Ion Mobility Spectrometry
Ion mobility spectrometry is a technique which
was designed for the detection of trace
compounds within a gas, e.g. gaseous
pollutants in air7,8,19,23-24. It combines high

Received for review November 10, 1999, Accepted December 9, 1999

Copyright © 1999 by International Society for Ion Mobility Spectrometry
 J.I. Baumbach et al.: „Monitoring of Circuit Breakers using ...”, IJIMS 2(1999)1, 35-39, p. 36
Figure 1:
Point to connect the circuit breaker to the ion mobility spectrometer
sensitivity and relatively low technical
expenditure with high speed data acquisition.
The main advantage over other common
detection methods is the fact, that the
instrument can work on-line, continuously and
unsupervised. All these advantages also apply
to the application introduced here. However,
there are some essential differences because
of the application in the industry here to the
traditional operation of the ion mobility
spectrometer (IMS). This shall be made clear in
the following.
The instrument is based on the drift of ions at
ambient pressure under the influence of an
electric field. The ions undergo a separation
process based on various drift velocities due to
different masses and charges on the way
towards the Faraday plate. A so called drift gas
(clean air or nitrogen), which flows from the
Copyright © 1999 by International Society for Ion Mobility Spectrometry
Faraday plate to the ionization region is used
to protect the drift region from chemical
reactions between the analyte molecules and
to allow only ions of the analyte formed to
enter the drift region but no uncharged
molecules of the analyte. One of the
preconditions of IMS operation is that
(hopefully) no charge transfer reactions occur
in the drift region of the IMS.
In our case, however, an application in
industrial area is considered. Therefore, no
drift gas is available in the substation
investigated. In contrast to the common
operation of the IMS a low resolution IMS not
protected against analyte molecules entering
the drift region was build. Here, the real start
position of the ion swarm is unknown.
Normally, a Bradbury-Nielsen shutter opens for
short time intervals between some µs and
 J.I. Baumbach et al.: „Monitoring of Circuit Breakers using ...”, IJIMS 2(1999)1, 35-39, p. 37

comparable conditions
reference spectra of pure SF6
Peakshift Phase C were taken on-site and they
Peak Position / ms
1,0 Phase C 29.5 showed no significant
Phase B 29.1 difference to the spectra taken
Phase A 28.4
Reference 27.1 in the laboratory. It is notable
that the data acquisition time
Signal / V

(including data processing) was

0,5
only a few minutes under real
Mean Peak Position
(5 Measurements)
conditions which makes this
Phase A (28.4+0.2) ms
Phase B (29.1+0.3) ms method especially interesting to
Phase C (29.5+0.2) ms
the potential users. The flux
0,0
Peak Position
was adjusted to about 2 L/h at
ambient pressure. The total
10 20 30 40 50
measurement time was about 5
Drift Time / ms
min. The filling valve was
connected to the IMS (see
Figure 2: Figure 1) with a DILO® adapter
and a Teflon® line with an inner
Spectra obtained on the three phases of a circuit breaker and diameter of 1 mm. A needle
a reference spectrum of new SF6 valve allowed the adjustment of
a constant small flux through
about 1 ms and only during this time intervals the IMS. All 36 circuit breakers on the site were
ions can enter the drift region. Thus, in our investigated using this procedure. In Figure 2
case a flow of contaminated SF6 will enter the change of the peak positions calculated
ionization and drift region. Therefore, charge from the SF6 spectra of the 3 compartments of
transfer reactions also occur in the drift region. the phases A, B and C (former nomenclature
The mechanism of ion formation in SF6 is R, S and T) of a circuit breaker are clearly
currently under investigation using a high visible. This leads to the conclusion that
resolution IMS. despite the molecular sieves installed in the
Collecting the ions on a Faraday plate delivers compartments, significant amounts of
a time dependent signal corresponding to the by-products are present in the gas of this
mobility of the arriving ions. Normally,
such an ion mobility spectrum
contains information about the nature
of the different trace compounds
present in the sampled gas. In our
case a broad peak occurs. But the 2.5

shift of the peak position could be 2.0

correlated to the total number of
/ ms

decomposition products25. 1.5

Peak Shift

1.0

Results and Discussion 0.5

For investigations on SF6, a table-top
0.0
ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) was
developed and employed in a
er

A
ak

conventional substation equipped

re
it B

B
with SF6 filled circuit breakers under Ph
rcu

ase
Ci

normal operation. The IMS was C

connected to the gas compartment

with a thin polyethylene tube, which Figure 3:
allowed a small flux of SF6 to pass
through the instrument, adjustable Peak shift between the reference spectrum and the
with a needle valve. To ensure spectrum obtained from 36 different circuit breakers
Copyright © 1999 by International Society for Ion Mobility Spectrometry
 J.I. Baumbach et al.: „Monitoring of Circuit Breakers using ...”, IJIMS 2(1999)1, 35-39, p. 38

ranges (see Figure 4). However,

since the distance etween the error
source and the gas sampling point is
16
not known, the local concentrations
14
> 500 > 750 could be much higher. The CIGRE
12
ppmv ppmv values for the concentration (total
number of decomposition products)
10
acceptable are between 500 ppmv
Number

8 and 2000 ppmv. As can be seen in

6
Figure 4 some circuit breakers were
over these limits and were this
4 method to be used for event
2 orientated maintenance then these
circuit breakers should be subject to
0
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 maintenance.
Peak Shift / ms The use of IMS, as presented here,
allows an automated monitoring
system to be set up. The structure of
Figure 4: such a system is shown in Figure 5.
Crucial compartments of the
Classification of the peak shift and interpretation in substation should be equipped with
terms of mean decomposition products expected an IMS connected to the gas inside
the compartments. The acquired
specific circuit breaker. The identity and origin spectra could be transferred via a local area
of the by-products could be investigated using network or other telecommunications system to
more selective analytical methods. The the control room where the IMS server is
performance of the monitoring system, placed. Here the spectra can be evaluated by
however, is demonstrated through detection of comparison to reference data, providing a
the peak shifts (see Figure 3). The shift in the basis for decisions on maintenance.
peak position is correlated to the mean
concentration of the decomposition products. Conclusions
Therefore, the number of circuit breakers in A sensitive method was developed for on-site
different classes of peak shift ranges monitoring of SF6 quality which proved to be
corresponds with classes of concentration suitable for the detection of small changes in
composition of the gas.
Experiments carried out
Gas insulated Available network
connection for
on-site at a gas insulated
substation system extension
Power plant substation under real
Gas sampling
and feedback
conditions revealed the
IMS Connection ability of the instrument
employing existing
Control room
network connections to withstand the
IMS
Monitored environmental conditions
compart- IMS Operating outside the laboratory.
ments IMS
company The encouraging results
IMS-server
of the form the basis for a
substation
IMS rugged continuously
IMS Data transfer to control room
operating monitoring
system for circuit
breakers in gas insulated
Figure 5: substations.

Concept of a continuously monitoring system to control on-line and Acknowledgments

on-site the gas quality in different compartments of a gas insulated The financial support of
substation the Bundesministerium
Copyright © 1999 by International Society for Ion Mobility Spectrometry
 J.I. Baumbach et al.: „Monitoring of Circuit Breakers using ...”, IJIMS 2(1999)1, 35-39, p. 39
für Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und
Technologie and the Ministerium für
Wissenschaft und Forschung des Landes
Nordrhein-Westfalen are gratefully
acknowledged.
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