Sealed Enclosure for GIS Rupture Disc Gas Leak Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fugitive leaks of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) occur at the flanges and rupture membranes of gas-insulated electrical substations and high-voltage circuit breakers, leading to pressure drops, costly maintenance, and safety risks due to the aging of seals, with existing sealing methods being complex, costly, and hazardous.
Innovation Solution
A sealed containment device with a pressure rupture mechanism is applied around the rupture disk or membrane, allowing gas leaks to be confined without dismantling the flanges, using a lightweight, recyclable enclosure made of high-density polyethylene, which can rupture under lower pressure than the rupture member, protecting against weather and ultraviolet radiation, and incorporating features for gas recovery and operator safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing paste or resin is applied to plug leak initiation points, then gas leaks are reduced, but the operation becomes complex, long, and tedious requiring regular renewal
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the sealing system into two independent parts: the existing flange connection and the added containment chamber. This segmentation allows the containment chamber to be installed separately without modifying the flange sealing, simplifying the overall operation while maintaining gas tightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The containment chamber acts as an intermediary structure between the flange connection and the external environment. It captures leaked gas before it escapes to the atmosphere, providing a passive sealing solution that requires no regular maintenance or renewal operations.
2Reliability
If sealing paste or resin is applied to plug leak initiation points, then gas leaks are reduced, but the operation presents safety risks due to induction phenomena
Solution Approach 1:
The containment chamber serves as a protective intermediary that isolates personnel from high-voltage induction zones. By performing the containment installation at a safe distance from live components, the hazardous induction phenomena are avoided while still achieving gas leak containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the sealing function from the hazardous zone near the flanges and relocates it to the containment chamber which can be safely positioned away from induction risks. This separation eliminates exposure to harmful electromagnetic fields during maintenance operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively contains gas leaks, reduces maintenance costs, ensures operator safety, and allows for gas recovery without disrupting the substation or circuit breaker operation, while being simple to implement and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
comprising means of rupture under pressure able to rupture under a gas pressure lower than the rupture pressure of said rupture member
Data Source
AI summary
A device for containing gas leaks occurring at a rupture disc of a compartment of a gas insulated electric substation or high-voltage circuit breaker. The invention concerns a device for containing gas leaks occurring at a rupture member, such as a disc (21) or a membrane, of a compartment of a gas insulated electric substation or a gas insulated high-voltage circuit breaker. According to the invention, such a containment device (10) comprises a sealed enclosure (101) arranged so as to be able to completely enclose the outer surface of said rupture member, said enclosure having a sealed closing portion (105) intended to be secured around a substantially tubular element (14) of said compartment and comprising means for rupturing under pressure that are capable of breaking under a gas pressure lower than the rupture pressure of said rupture member.