GE GL317D, Instruction Manual

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Equipment end of life
Guidelines for the handling of used SF6 gas
and its secondary products
GE Information
07- 2016 L81- 001EN/03
4/4
Recapitulation of important instructions
Reminder Pure, non- contaminated SF
6
gas is non- poisonous. Electrical discharges
and fault- switching arcs will give rise to different grades of poisonous decom-
position products. In small amounts gaseous decomposition products pro-
duce - within seconds and before any poisonous effects can take place -
warning symptoms, such as an unpleasant piercing odor, nasal, mouth and
eye irritations, which enable working personnel to withdraw to safety. Solid
decomposition products (powdery residues from switching) can cause skin
irritations. SF
6
is about five times heavier than air, and in the absence of turbu-
lence, results in the gas collecting just above ground level and causing suffoc-
ation through a deficiency of oxygen.
Important
instructions
The table below recapitulates the important instructions to follow at the time
of handling of used SF
6
gas and decomposition products:
No. Instruction
1 As soon as an unpleasant, piercing odor from decomposition products
becomes perceptible leave the substation room without delay. enter
the room only after thorough ventilation or when wearing suitable oxy-
gen breathing masks (with filtering or fresh air device).
2 After disturbances, enter the substation room only after having thor-
oughly aired the room or when wearing independent of ambient- air
operating oxygen breathing masks, or alternatively, after verifying by
measurement that the ambient air contains at least 17% volume of
oxygen, especially if, one has to reckon with the concentration of SF
6
in hazardous amounts.
3 Enter rooms located below, and connected with the substation- rooms
after thorough ventilation only, or when wearing oxygen breathing
masks which operate independent of the ambient- air, or alternatively,
after having verified by measurement that the ambient air contains at
least 17% volume of oxygen.
4 Ensure that the room ventilation operates satisfactorily, whilst main-
tenance work is being performed on SF
6
switchgear (discharging and
filling of gas, opening and cleaning of equipment).
5 When working on opened SF
6
switchgear protect skin against contact
with gas and avoid swallowing or inhaling of gas. Ensure body, clothing
and work- bench cleanliness. Wear special work- overalls and after
completion of work discard latter.
6 Wash skin which comes in contact with powder deposits with plenty of
water. Before work- breaks and after work wash face, neck, arms and
hands thoroughly with soap and plenty of water.
7 Do not stir- up powder deposits resulting from arc- switching. Remove
sticky powder with dry rags. Use suitable vacuum cleaner with paper-
filter to remove loose powder. Discard used items and filter- bags in
such a manner that powder deposit does not spread. Before discarding
neutralize used items.
8 Avoid eating, drinking and storing eatables in rooms with opened SF
6
switchgear which contains powder deposits.