Sulfur Hexafluride (SF6) Replacement or Reduction in high voltage switchgear and airborne radar

Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) is a gaseous dielectric used for suppression of high-voltage breakdown by the electric power industry and airborne military radar systems, including the Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS). SF6 is chemically inert and a very efficient infrared (IR) absorber, which make it a very potent greenhouse gas (GHG) whose impact on global warming is estimated to be 24,000 times greater than CO2. Prior studies have not found a "universal" non-GHG replacement gas, consequently eliminating or reducing the use of SF6 needs to be investigated on a case-by-case basis for each application. This program will develop a step-by-step procedure that evaluates each component of a military radar system, calculating the voltage stress levels, determining the SF6 effectiveness, and investigating whether cost-effective modifications can be made to reduce or eliminate the use of SF6. Although the methodolgy will be general, the specific candidate system to be investigated will be the high power microwave portions of the AWACS radar. Because the AWACS radar system was designed long before the GHG properties of SF6 were recognized, it is likely that progress can be made in reducing or eliminating the use of SF6.