Market demand for sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) may decrease under the “dual carbon” policy

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is a colorless, tasteless, odorless and non-toxic gas at normal temperature and pressure. It is chemically inert, rarely soluble in water and slightly soluble in alcohol. Sulfur hexafluoride has excellent heat resistance and stable chemical properties. In its pure state, it does not decompose even above 500°C. It is also a stable high-temperature heat carrier, and has good electrical insulation properties and excellent arc extinguishing properties. .

In 1900, sulfur hexafluoride was synthesized by two French chemists, Moissan and Lebeau. Around 1940, commercial application began, and it was first used in the military field. It began to develop in the civilian field in the 1960s. Today, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is widely used as a gas in electronic, electrical, and power equipment such as optical fibers, nitrogen excimer lasers, high-voltage switches, circuit breakers, gas-insulated fully enclosed electrical appliances, current transformers, particle accelerators, and arresters. Insulation; electronic-grade high-purity sulfur hexafluoride is an ideal electronic etchant and can be used as a plasma etching and cleaning agent in the manufacturing of large integrated circuits such as computer chips and LCD screens; sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) also It can be used as a tracer, standard gas or standard mixture in meteorology, environmental testing and other departments, and as a refrigerant in the refrigeration industry. According to the released “Research Report on Market Monitoring and Future Development Prospects of China’s Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) Industry from 2022 to 2026” , power equipment-related products are its main application field. In the field of medium-voltage circuit breakers, sulfur hexafluoride circuit breakers account for about 50%, while in high-voltage and ultra-high-voltage circuit breakers, almost all hexafluoride circuit breakers are used. Sulfur circuit breakers; in the electronic field, the use of sulfur hexafluoride is also increasing, mainly because it can produce the greatest effect with the smallest amount, and the price is only 1/3 of the alternative nitrogen trifluoride.

However, with the increase in applications and research, the application drawbacks of sulfur hexafluoride are gradually exposed. For example, sulfur hexafluoride is prone to gas leakage and escape during use, and will produce greenhouse benefits. Relevant data show that the climate warming power of sulfur hexafluoride is 23,900 times that of carbon dioxide, making it the most terrifying greenhouse gas in the world. With global warming and frequent extreme weather events, more and more countries have recognized and valued the global disaster caused by the greenhouse effect, and sulfur hexafluoride has also become one of the concerns of governments around the world. In response to environmental protection requirements, some industries have begun to look for cleaner gas products to replace sulfur hexafluoride. For example, Schneider Electric has launched the GM AirSet medium-voltage inflatable cabinet using sulfur hexafluoride-free technology; State Grid Ningdong Power Supply Company has Using sulfur hexafluoride, the first gas replacement of the gas chamber of GIS equipment in Ningxia was completed at the 110 kV Yongming substation. Sulfur hexafluoride and nitrogen were mixed at a volume ratio of 3:7.

In 2021, our country has successively issued two important policies, the “Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Completely, Accurately and Comprehensively Implementing the New Development Concept and Doing a Good Job in Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality” and the “Carbon Peaking Action Plan before 2030”, emphasizing the industrial sector. We must accelerate green and low-carbon transformation and high-quality development, and strive to be the first to achieve carbon peak. Industrial analysts said that in the future, with the implementation of the “dual carbon” policy, more and more industries will use six Sulfur fluoride replacement products may reduce the use of sulfur hexafluoride, and the demand for sulfur hexafluoride may decline.