2019 IEEE International Conference on Innovative Research and Development (ICIRD)
Quality Analysis and Lifetime Prediction of SF6 in
High Voltage Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) at
CSW Bulungan
Ratri P. Dewimaruto Amien Rahardjo
Department of Electrical Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering
Universitas Indonesia Universitas Indonesia
Depok, Indonesia Depok, Indonesia
ratripraj@gmail.com amien@eng.ui.ac.id
Fauzan H. Jufri
Department of Electrical Engineering
Universitas Indonesia
Depok, Indonesia
fauzanhj@ui.ac.id
Abstract— This paper represents the relation between
moisture content and dew point of SF6 gas using the Magnus
method. The method shows that the main circuit breaker in the
high voltage gas insulated switchgear (HVGIS) is the most
fragile compartment. The relationship of dew point to moisture
content of SF6 in HVGIS is linear with the rate of change
coefficient of 0.1258 oC/ppmv. Furthermore, the study shows
pressure can be used to forecast the SF6 gas lifetime by using
Time to Failure (TTF) method. The results explain the average
remain lifetime values of SF6 gas is 21 years. The highest
predicted value is on the Busbar bay (bus 2), reaching 42 years,
and the lowest value is on the Karet-2 bay (Main CB), namely
11 years. This alternative method is capable showing reliable
results compare with existing statistic method used in located
HVGIS.
Keywords— SF6 Gas; Moisture Content; Dew Point;
Pressure; Lifetime Operation, Magnus Method, TTF Method
I. INTRODUCTION
Total population of DKI Jakarta [the Special Capital
Region of Jakarta] in 2018 was around 10,467,629 [1] while
the total existing area was 662.33 km2 [2]. Gas Insulated
Switchgear is the best way to provide electricity in small
area. Gas Insulated Switchgear uses gas as the insulation
because it has a fairly large density, which is five times
compared to the usual other ordinary gases. It can capture
free electrons, absorb energy, and decrease the arching
temperature of the fire [3] as well. By knowing the moisture
content and dew point, we can assume the quality of the GIS
using Magnus method [4]. The results show that gas in
the main circuit breaker compartment becomes the most
fragile insulation because it reacts directly through the fire
when the arching process occurs. Knowing the quality of
GIS can help us, as an engineer, change or take action to deal
with the abnormal conditions of the gas. The prediction of
gas Lifetime can be calculated by using the Time to
Failure Method with pressure as the parameter [5].
This research was funded by a research grant named HIBAH PITTA B
2019 Number NKB-0729/UN2.R3.1/HKP .05.00/2019 from Universitas
Indonesia.
978-1-7281-2825-2 /19/$31.00 ©2019 IEEE
Authorized licensed use limited to: University of Exeter. Downloaded on June 25,2020 at 10:35:02 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
Rudy Setiabudy
Department of Electrical Engineering
Universitas Indonesia
Depok, Indonesia
rudy@eng.ui.ac.id
Faiz Husnayain*
Department of Electrical Engineering
Universitas Indonesia
Depok, Indonesia
faiz@eng.ui.ac.id
A. SF6 Gas
Fig. 1 shows the molecular formula of sulfur hexafluoride.
Dielectric strength of sulfur hexafluoride is greater than 89
kV/cm or equal to 2.3 times the dielectric strength of air. GIS
(Gas Insulated Switchgear) is the concept of Substation
implementation, which was placed in a room covered with
metal in 1920s by using oil as its insulation. But its later
development in 1930s used Freon as the insulation [6]. With
the development of SF6 gas technology, it can be ascertained
that, to date, the most proper isolation for GIS (Gas Insulated
Switchgear) is SF6 gas.
Physical properties of SF6 gas are at a temperature of 20
o
C and a pressure of 1 atm (760 mmHg), it has a density of
6.139 kg/m3. It has no color, smell, and is not toxic. Its
chemical properties are non-flammable, very stable, not
easily react (inert) with materials such as plastic, metal and
others [7]. The dielectric properties of SF6 gas are it is able to
capture free electrons (as charge carriers), absorb energy, and
decrease the arching temperature of the fire. After a fire
outage occurs, a small portion of SF6 will remain a
decomposition product while most of it will return to SF6 [3].
Fig. 1 The Formula of Sulfur Hexafluoride
B. Quality Analysis
In the use of gas as an isolation medium in GIS, SF6 gas
quality can be seen from several parameters, namely dew
point, moisture content, purity, and decomposition products.
This paper only pays more attention to two parameters,
namely moisture content and dew point. Dew point of SF6
gas is a water compound, which changes from gas to liquid
on SF6 gas. The dew point limit in the GIS compartment has
the highest value at -5 oC in accordance with the standard of
CIGRE 234 B3.02.01 [8]. The level of moisture is the
amount of moisture in a compartment. Based on the Elin
Holec Manual Book standard, the maximum value of
moisture content is 243 ppmv [8]. There is a main material
that can really help reducing the moisture content and
decomposition product called absorbents. Absorption is a
surface phenomenon based on molecular diffusion.
Absorbents, mostly porous, are usually used in SF gas-
insulated apparatus to control the concentrations of water
vapor and acid gas decomposition products [9].
C. Lifetime Operation
Predicting SF6 gas lifetime is a way to make it easier to
see the performance of GIS as a whole using pressure
parameter. This was done to provide a prediction of the exact
time when gas insulation will fail so that it can be prevented
or a gas change can be made before the predicted failure
time.
II. METHODOLOGY AND TEST PROCEDURE
SF6 Gas quality measurement aims to determine the
quality of SF6 gas used, whether it is still normal or not. The
tool used for measuring the quality of SF6 gas was SF6 Multi-
Analyzer. SF6 Multi-Analyzer can measure all predetermined
parameters, namely the amount of SF6 gas purity, dew point
value, moisture content value, and SO2 concentration as the
results of decomposition products [10]. The value of SF6 gas
quality indicator was adjusted to its respective standards, so
that the quality of SF6 gas can be known to be in normal
condition or not.
quality of SF6 gas would be compared with the standard set.
If the value is not in accordance with the provisions, the SF6
gas in the unit must be removed as soon as possible [11]. The
standard used was in accordance with the unit in each GIS.
By knowing the value of moisture content and pressure in
each compartment, the value of partial pressure of water
vapor can be determined. By using the following equation,
partial pressure of water vapor can be calculated
(X  P) (1)
e=
X  10 6
e is the value of the partial pressure of water vapor (Pa).
X is the value of moisture content obtained from the average
value of moisture content for the last 10 years (ppmv). P is
the pressure in each unit (Pa). To get the value of dew point,
partial pressure of water vapor is very dominant in the
calculation. The equation to find the value of dew point at -
60 °C - 0 °C is as follows
 e 
ln   (2)
Tf = 272.62   611.2 
 e 
22.46 - ln  
 611.2 
When the value of e or partial pressure of water
vapor (Pa) obtained, the value will be substituted to the
above equation to obtain the value of dew point. Tf is the
value of dew point that will be produced in each
compartment (°C).

A. Procedure of Quality Gas Analysis

Fig. 2 SF6 Multi-Analyzer

Fig. 2 shows the measurement of SF6 gas quality was

carried out using the SF6 gas gauge (SF6 Multi-Analyzer).
SF6 gas measurement was carried out for 15 minutes by
connecting the measuring instruments to each compartment
in the whole GIS. Data collection must be carried out one by
one because the tool can only measure SF6 gas quality in
each compartment. After 15 minutes, the results of SF6 gas
measurement will appear on the measuring device according
to the pre-specified parameters, namely purity, dew point,
moisture content, and decomposition results. Once
completed, the pumped SF6 gas will return to the measured
compartment.
Fig. 3 shows the flowchart of the research. It does consist
of two stages, first determine the quality of SF6 gas using
Magnus method and determine the remaining lifetime of the
gas using TTF method.
Fig. 3 Flowchart of the research

B. Methodology for Quality Analysis

The method used to find the SF6 gas quality value was
Magnus method [4]. In this case, all values measured by the

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C. Methodology for Predicting the Lifetime of SF6 Gas
Predicting the lifetime of SF6 gas can be done by using
partial discharge method [5]. This partial discharge method
needs partial discharge value [12], which cannot be obtained
due to limited data and devices. Another method used to
predict the age of SF6 gas lifetime operation was Time to
Failure (TTF) method [5]. This method only uses one
parameter, namely pressure. Pressure value in a compartment
can be ascertained to be decreased or increased. This can
occur due to a smooth gas leak. The value of leakage can be
calculated using the following equation
 P  V 
qt =
t
is the value of leakage rate (Pa. m2 / s). P is pressure
value in each compartment (bar). V is the volume of SF6 gas
(m3) and t is time (S). By knowing the actual pressure value
(∆P) and time interval (∆t), Time to Failure can be calculated
using the following equation
normal. As for the moisture content analysis in the Main CB
compartment, it can be seen that moisture content in almost
all of the bays has a value of more than 200 ppmv. In Karet-1
bay, moisture content value is 265.2 ppmv. The highest value
of moisture content is seen in Karet-2 bay with a moisture
content value of 283.5 ppmv. Both Karet-1 and Karet-2 bays
show that they have values above the standard of Elin Holec
Manual Book. Based on the overall data, Main CB has the
highest moisture content and has more than one bay
indicated to be too moist. Main CB compartment is a place
for SF6 gas to work optimally when there is an arc. When
arcing occurs, SF6 gas will work covering the arcs of the fire
(3) to dampen it so that no other sparks will occur. So, it can be
said that moisture content value in the Main CB
compartment will tend to be higher than the other
compartments.

 Pf - P3 
tf =  V + t3  
qt
is pressure value that makes the component fail
according to the Elin Holec Manual Book, namely 6.2 bar
[13] and is the value of gas pressure at time . By using
the Time to Failure (TTF) method, we will get the value in
the form of time. Pressure value used is a unit (Bar). Time to
Failure (TTF) is the difference in value between the Time to
Failure value with the last measurement time. So, the
equation will be as below
Pf  Pi
TTF   ti  ti 1  (5) Fig. 5 Graphic of Moisture Content vs Dew Point
Pi  Pi 1
Fig. 5 shows the relation between moisture content and
is the lower limit value and is the upper limit dew point. The trendline value is y=0.1258x – 55.602 and R
value in 10 years or equal to 520 weeks. is the time period square value is 0.97767. It can be seen that the higher the
of the test in a matter of weeks and t is the length of value of moisture content, the value of dew point will be
even higher (close to zero). This indicates that the
time at the beginning of the test. relationship between the two main parameters proved to be
III. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS directly proportional.
The results of the study will be explained in the following B. The Results of Prediction on SF6 Gas Lifetime
section.
TABLE I. THE RESULTS OF PREDICTION ON THE GAS LIFETIME
A. Result of Quality Analysis
Lower Upper
TTF TTF
Bay Compartment Limit Limit
[Weeks] [Years]
[Bar] [Bar]
Mechanical
8.3 9.435 962.11 18.502
Circuit Breaker
TR- Main Circuit
01 8.7 9.44 1756.7 33.78
Breaker
Sealing End 8.34 9.44 1011.6 19.454
Mechanical
8.27 9.44 920 17.692
Circuit Breaker
TR- Main Circuit
02 8.39 9.2 1405.9 27.037
Breaker
Sealing End 8.55 9.3 1629.3 31.333
Mechanical
8 9.3 720 13.846
Fig. 4 Graphic of Moisture Content Mean Values Circuit Breaker
TR- Main Circuit
Fig. 4explains the results of the moisture content mean 03 8.12 9.44 756.36 14.54
Breaker
values. The results obtained were then divided into 2 Sealing End 8.5 9.44 1272.3 24.46
indications. When the dew point temperature is higher than Karet Mechanical
the standard value, the gas quality showing a damp 7.9 9.44 574.02 11.038
-1 Circuit Breaker
indication; otherwise the gas quality will be indicated as

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 Lower Upper shows that no matter how bad the quality of SF6 gas, its
TTF TTF
Bay Compartment Limit Limit
[Weeks] [Years] Lifetime can still reach more than 10 years. With the highest
[Bar] [Bar] value is on the Busbar bay (bus 2), reaching 42 years, and the
Main Circuit lowest value is on the Karet-2 bay (Main CB), namely 11
8 9.19 786.55 15.126
Breaker
years.
Disconnecting
8 9.49 628.18 12.080
Line
Mechanical
7.8 9.21 590.07 11.347 ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Circuit Breaker
Karet Main Circuit This research was funded by a research grant named
7.9 9 803.63 15.454 HIBAH PITTA B 2019 Number NKB-0729/UN2.R3.1/HKP
-2 Breaker
Disconnecting
8 8.98 955.10 18.367
.05.00/2019 from Universitas Indonesia.
Line
Mechanical
8.21 9 1323.0 25.443
Coup Circuit Breaker
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