Countermeasures against aggressive SF₆by-products

SF₆ is inert during normal use. When electrical discharges occur within SF₆filled gas compartments, mechanical abrasion, toxic and material-aggressive by-products can emerge. The two main by-products that may occur are hydrofluoric acid and thionyl fluoride. Both can cause long-term damage to improper material selection. Abrasion particles can cause sensing element degradation. Trafag deals with it by using suitable materials and additional integrated process gas filters.

Countermeasures for devices with reference gas comparison

Materials for process gas connection, reference gas chamber and bellows system are specifically selected to withstand hydrofluoric acid and thionyl fluoride. High-alloyed stainless steels 1.4404, 1.4435, 1.4571 (AISI316L, AISI316Ti) are used.

Reference gas chamber, bellows system and process connection are made of stainless steel.

Countermeasures for devices with quartz tuning fork technology

The quartz tuning fork requires advanced countermeasures to repel ingress of aggressive by-products that may occur in insulating gases. Materials for the process gas connection and measurement chamber are specifically selected. High-alloyed stainless steels 1.4404 and 1.4435 (AISI316L) are used. An additional integrated process gas filter protects from fine abrasion particles and absorbs corrosive gases.

Measurement chamber and process connection are made of stainless steel. A process gas filter protects from aggressive by-products.

Response time of the integrated process gas filter of the density sensor

During normal operation, insulating gas density changes are detected in less than 10 ms. The integrated filter element induces a transient response time after installation and initial insulating gas filling. Therefore, a minimised time period for gas equalization between process compartment and the sensor's measurement chamber occurs.