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&EPA
Reducing SF4 Emissions in Electric
Power Systems: Best Industry Practices
EPA has partnered with the electric power industry to identify and highlight cost-effective methods of reducing SF6
emissions to the atmosphere. Utility experience shows that implementing and following best practices leads to emission
reductions. Utilities continue to improve practices related to gas handling and prevent emissions.
o
Establish lifecycle approach for SF6 management through company policies, protocols,
and standard operating procedures.
This approach helps track SF6 inventory and costs, detect and repair leaks, and properly handle, recover and recycle SF6. Established policies
can be continually improved upon and expanded to incorporate other options for reducing SF6emissions.
Successful company	^ Coverall	Allow for
policies and programs:	I practices	^ innovation
Designate
responsible parties

Train & empower
employees
—o
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Establish procedures for gas inventory, accounting, and tracking.
Tracking procedures include:
• Labeling and inventory of gas cylinders
A variety of SF6 tracking
software tools are available
on the market that:
• Using log sheets for warehouse cylinders
*1^, Track
real-time
leak rates
• Inventory of all SF equipment
Automatically
scan cylinder
barcodes
Track inconsistent
data and scrutinize
outliers
Forecast trends and
identify chronic
leaking equipment
Tracking leak history of equipment identifies priorities for repairs and replacements.
Ensure good management of SF6 acquisitions and gas inventory.
Utilities are consolidating storage inventory and selecting a single vendor.
Vendors can support best practices by:
I
Optimizing
cylinder size
i+
Customizing the
cylinder delivery system
*
Minimizing cylinder
handling
#
Limiting
inventory
I
Maximizing gas utilization
from every cylinder
Train employees annually in SF6 handling and in using the necessary equipment.
Training enables employees to follow procedures properly, understand the environmental and health impacts of SF6, and learn about
emission reduction options.
Partners can:
Require on-the-job training for
field employees who handle SF6.
(2X
4
&
Maintain in-house certification
requirements for gas handling.
&
Recycle SF6 gas at equipment servicing or disposal.
Using gas cart recovery equipment to off-load and transfer SF6 for maintenance and recycling reduces emissions. It is critical to follow
correct procedures when using service carts and to ensure that gas carts are properly maintained.
How can I verify that residual SF6
is removed from equipment?
Use mass flow scales
or weight scales
s
Refer to temperature/
pressure curves
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Use properly functioning recovery
equipment, gauges, and scales
Implement leak detection and repair strategies.
Leak detection with soap and water solutions, bagging, or
thermal imaging to detect minor, chronic leaks without taking
equipment out of service. Leak detection teams regularly inspect
equipment to identify SF6 leaks and prioritize repair or
replacement. Technologies are available to provide real-time
monitoring of SF6 leaks and to identify components that require
the most immediate repair.
Leak repair is most efficient when the equipment is tested
before and after repairs, using proper SF6 recovery procedures.
Effective leak repair requires advanced planning, prioritization to
target worst performers, and evaluation of whether the best
approach is to replace GIE.

Upgrade equipment to reduce SF6 use and leaks.
New equipment designs use less SF6and tighter seals to reduce leaks. Other alternative designs use alternatives to SF6, like flu oron it rile or
fluoroketone, or vacuum based technology with C09, or"CleanAir" asa base gas. While new equipment requires new maintenance procedures,
training, and management adjustments, a systematic approach to anticipating equipment replacement can significantly reduce emissions.
Medium-voltage alternatives have existed for the past decade; high-voltage alternatives are increasingly available.
Decommission equipment properly.
Proper decommissioning using SF6 recovery systems is important to prevent emissions. For closed-pressure systems,
Utilities can purify used SF6 onsite or off-site or	Send non-reusable gas for destruction.
Evacuate SF6 from all equipment including hermetically sealed pressure equipment.

For more information, please see Overview of SF Emissions Sources and
Reduction Options in Electric Power Systems. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
August 2018. EPA Publication No. EPA 430-R-18-004. See EPA's website:
https://www.epa.gov/f-gas-partnership-programs/overview-sf6-emissions-sources-
and-reduction-options-electric-power
EPA's SF Emission Reduction Partnership for Electric Power Systems
Established in 1999, the SF Emission Reduction Partnership for Electric Power Systems
is a collaborative, voluntary effort between EPA and the electric power industry to identify,
recommend, and implement cost-effective solutions to reduce or eliminate SF emissions.
The SF emissions of Partners have reduced by 74% since 1999.
IAIXXXSF6 Emission Reduction
Partnership for Electric Power Systems

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