SF6 Recovery
SF6 , sulfur hexaflouride, is used around the world as a dielectric medium for high-voltage
circuit breakers, switchgear, and other electrical equipment. Additionally it is
used for the filling of insulated windows and for the casting of magnesium. The
gas is expensive and is also a powerful green house gas (20000 times more potent
than CO2). Generon is offering systems that will cut SF6 emissions by >90% while
having a projected payback time of less than a year for most applications. Generon
membranes allow SF6 to be retained selectively at or near feed pressure while permeating
out the unwanted air. Retaining the concentrated SF6 at pressure allows for convenient
storage or reuse of the gas.
In a typical GENERON® membrane system for SF6 recovery, the feed gas is compressed
and filtered to remove particles and condensate. A heating step provides an optimum
operation temperature for the feed gas to enter the GENERON® membrane modules. SF6
gas permeates extremely "slow" through the membrane walls and remains at pressure.
The "faster" permeating gases, e.g. N2 , O2 , H2O, are removed with the permeate.
