Electrical Industry
The majority of sulfur hexafluoride applications are in the electrical industry. Due to its high dielectric strength — almost three times that of air or oxygen — this gas effectively quenches electrical discharges, preventing arcs and short circuits in enclosed equipment. Some examples of gas-insulated equipment that use sulfur hexafluoride gas include:
- Switchgear
- Circuit breakers
- Transformers
- Disconnectors and ground switches
- Capacitors
- Gas-insulated lines and substations