The largest domestic supplier of SF6
Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) is a dense, inert, and non-toxic gas known for its high dielectric strength and thermal stability. The SF6 grades we offer meet rigorous standards such as IEC 376 and ASTM D2472-00, ensuring quality and reliability.
Our SF6 is used in various applications, including as an insulator in circuit breakers, switchgear, gas-insulated substations, and transmission lines. Its exceptional arc quenching properties simplify switchgear design, enabling size and weight reduction.
Compared to traditional dielectrics, SF6 offers superior electrical, thermal, and chemical properties, enabling equipment with higher capacity and enhanced performance. Transitioning to SF6 from conventional dielectrics results in significant space and weight savings, along with operational improvements.
However, it’s crucial to note that SF6, although stable for high voltage electrical use, is a highly potent greenhouse gas, with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 22,800, making it 22,800 times more potent than carbon dioxide per pound. To address its environmental impact, SF6 users carefully monitor their usage and strive to minimize any releases. Efforts are concentrated on capturing and reconditioning any spent or contaminated gas.
To assist SF6 users, we provide digital solutions for tracking inventory and usage, along with nationwide service teams dedicated to removing and reconditioning SF6 gas. Our process ensures that our recycled SF6 meets the same rigorous specifications as virgin material, guaranteeing its suitability for even the most demanding applications while significantly reducing environmental harm.
Committed to the environment
The primary use of SF6 is as a gaseous dielectric medium in the electric industry for switchgear, high-voltage circuit breakers, and other electrical equipment. SF6 often replaces oil filled circuit breakers (OCB’s) that can contain PCB’s.
While SF6 provides many advantages and is the material of choice for many applications, there are environmental concerns that must be managed. SF6 does not cause harm to the ozone layer, but is considered to be a climate change pollutant by the EPA. For this reason, we offer SF6 recycling services that include the recovery and recycling of SF6 from old breakers, cylinders, and other systems.
In short, the technical and economic performance realized by electrical equipment manufacturers and electrical utilities using SF6 is unmatched. Despite all the advantages gained with using SF6 as well as recognizing the fact that there are no technical equivalent substitutes, it does present environmental challenges that must be addressed. SF6 has been identified as a highly potent greenhouse gas that causes climate change. The global warming potential (GWP) of SF6 is 22,800 times higher than that of CO2. SF6 also has an atmospheric life of 3200 years.
A large percentage of the SF6 being used today is in closed system applications. As long as the SF6 remains within the closed system no emissions to the atmosphere will occur. However, in reality some SF6 will be emitted during the systems life cycle, so the emphasis is to minimize the amount of SF6 released.
To further drive the reduction of total SF6 emissions, in 2011 the EPA began requiring mandatory emissions reporting for users of electrical transmission and distribution (T&D) equipment with total nameplate capacity over 17,820 lbs.
As a major supplier and responsible member of the global community, we are committed to collaborating with users to do our part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We continue to take every opportunity to implement new processes and systems designed to facilitate the recovery and recycling of used SF6. Whether SF6 is recovered from old breakers, cylinders, or other systems, we will recycle this material and return it to a fit-for-use purity that exceeds ASTM D2472-00 and IEC 60480 standards.
We are proud to offer our customers other services to reduce SF6 emissions using cost effective technologies and practices that can provide additional financial benefits.
Learn More
EFC Gases & Advanced Materials Adds to Successful Plant Facility in Hatfield, PA
EFC Gases & Advanced Materials is expanding both its facilities and its workforce in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, with the addition of a 32,000-square-foot extension to the existing production plant. The new space will be utilized for new purification/distillation and fill lines to facilitate the growth of existing products.
Recovery and Recycling
Gas recovery and recycling can improve economics and protect our environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
