Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF 6 ) Applications & Selling Training
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Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6)
Applications & Selling Training
What is SF6?
• Sulfur Hexafluoride
• 146.055 molecular weight
• Nonflammable, nonreactive, nontoxic
• Liquefied gas, vapor pressure 298 psig (@70oF)
• EPA greenhouse gas
– Mandated reporting under 40 CFR Part 98
SF6 – Applications
• High Voltage Electrical Equipment– Circuit breakers, GIS– 72.5 kV to 800 kV
• Aluminum and Magnesium Production– Cover gas and degassing
• Semiconductor Manufacturing– Plasma Etching
• Leak Detection (Tracer Gas)
SF6 – Regulatory/GHG Issues
• GWP of 22,800 (CO2=1)– Greenhouse gas but not an Ozone depleter
• 1 lb. of SF6 = 11.4 tons of CO2
• Atmospheric life of 3,200 years (CO2=200)• Many facilities must report under EPA GHGRP
– Subpart DD, SS, OO, I, F, T
• California and Massachusetts have emission mandates – less than 1% by 2020
• Users may require recycling and tracking
SF6 – Regulatory/GHG Issues
• U.S. Emissions down 80% last 25 years
• Global emissions are up
• China responsible for > 25% global emissions
U.S. Emissions 2015 -
• 2.9 million metric tons CO2e – Electrical HV Eqpt
• 0.7 million metric tons CO2e – Semiconductor
• 0.7 million metric tons CO2e – Metals
SF6 Applications – Electrical Equipment
• High Voltage Circuit Breakers
SF6 Applications – Electrical Equipment• High Voltage Circuit Breakers
– Typically 145 kV and above– Used as a dielectric– OEM’s are GE, Siemens, Hitachi, ABB, Mitsubishi, etc.– Utilities are the end users– GHGRP, subpart DD (Utilities) or SS (OEM)
• Utilities must report if over 17,820# nameplate capacity• OEM’s report if over 23,000# purchased
– 99.9% purity – ASTM and IEC spec.
SF6 Applications – Electrical Equipment
• OEM’s - High Voltage Circuit Breakers
– Not as much opportunity here
– Tied up in contracts, auctions
– Can be global deals
– Only a few locations
– May have need for local delivery/inventory mgmt
– Call on purchasing, engineering/projects, ops.
– Specs. may be important
SF6 Applications – Electrical Equipment
• Users - High Voltage Circuit Breakers– Utilities, they will be in your area
– Call on the substation maintenance facilities• Can buy outside of contract
• Like smaller packages, local pickup/delivery
– Call on purchasing• Develop the relationship and trust, local stocking/delivery
– I & E Department• With maintenance, also buy PCG’s, MRO, PPE, etc.
SF6 Applications – Electrical Equipment
• Users - High Voltage Circuit Breakers
– Repair/service contractors (High Voltage)
• Do work for the utilities and sometimes OEM’s
• Recovery/DILO carts
• NAICS Code Searches
– OEM’s 335311, 335313
– Utilities 221122 (221111-221121), 811310
– Service/Maintenance 811310
SF6 Applications – Mg and Al Production
SF6 Applications – Mg and Al Production
• Magnesium– 33% lighter than Aluminum– Used in Aluminum alloys– Mg is highly flammable when molten– SF6 mixes used as cover gas, 99.9% - 99.99% purity– Mixed with CO2 as cover gas/mold purge
• NAICS Code 331491– Mag foundries and nonferrous metal production/casting– Talk to operations/production personnel
SF6 Applications – Mg and Al Production
• Aluminum– SF6 used as degassing agent, typically 5% mix w/ N2 or Ar
• 99.9% purity
– Helps remove H2 bubbles that cause porosity• H2 comes from melt interaction with moisture
– Foundries will purchase premixed 5% blends or pure SF6 if they have a blender
• NAICS Code 331313– Al foundries and nonferrous metal production/casting– Talk to operations/production personnel
SF6 Applications – Semiconductor Mfg
– Plasma Etching, RIE
SF6 Applications – Semiconductor Mfg
– Plasma Etching, RIE
• Multi-step process on wafers
• Used in mfg chips for MEMS, LCD, Photovoltaics, etc.
– SF6 and Halocarbons are used as etchant gas
• 4.0 and 5.0 purities
– SF6 yields higher etching rates
– Different gases chosen based on rate and selectivity
– F does the work
SF6 Applications – Semiconductor Mfg
– NAICS 334413, 334111, 334419
– Universities• Nanofabrication facilities
• Call on purchasing, PI’s, lab managers
• May be able to supply outside of contract
– Semiconductor Fabricators• Various component suppliers, NAICS report
• Photovoltaics, MEMS, displays, etc.
• Call on purchasing, production, engineering
– Other gases will be in play at these facilities
SF6 Applications – Tracer Gas
– Leak Testing Applications
– Usually in low ppm mixture
– SF6 very detectable
– Better tracer and less expensive than Helium
– Pressure vessels
– Condensers
– Ventilation systems, hoods
– NAICS 334519, 238220, 333415, 332420, 333318
SF6 Applications – Others
– Retinal Surgery
– Ultrasound Imaging
– MRI of pulmonary ventilation
– Multi-pane windows
– Tennis Balls
– Magic tricks
SF6 Sales Goal
Win New Business!
SF6 Sales – Hunting/Qualifying Questions– Utilities - Qualifying Questions
• Do you report emissions to EPA under GHGRP?• What is your total nameplate capacity?• How many pounds of SF6 do you purchase per year?• How many pounds do you recover/recycle per year?• Do you need help in returning or recycling used SF6?• Do you need help managing/tracking SF6 cylinders and residual?• Would a different size cylinder be of value?• Would local delivery/pickup be of value?• Would vendor managed inventory be of value?• What current issues do you have with availability or service?
SF6 Sales – Hunting/Qualifying Questions– Foundries - Qualifying Questions
• Mag – what cover gas mixture do you use?– Do you mix this in-house or buy pre-mixed?
• Mag – what is your usage of this gas per month?• Mag – do you produce other alloys or other melts that require a
different cover gas or degassing mixture?• Al – do you use SF6 for degassing?• Al – what is the degassing mixture?
– Do you mix in-house or buy pre-mixed?
• Al – what is your usage of this gas per month?• Al – do you produce other alloys that require a different mix?• What current issues do you have with availability or service?
SF6 Sales – Hunting/Qualifying Questions
– Semiconductor/NanoFab - Qualifying Questions• Do you use SF6 for etching?
• What purity and valve?
• What cylinder size and what volume do you buy per year?
• What other process gases do you use?
• What businesses have research partnerships?
• Ask about current contract and ability to sell direct– Grant mandated purchasing
• Do you require local delivery or vendor managed inventory?
• What current sourcing/service issues do you have?
SF6 Sales – Hunting/Qualifying Questions
– Tracer Gas - Qualifying Questions
• Do you use or have you considered SF6 for leak detection?
• What mixture concentration and cylinder size?
• What other leak detection gases do you use?
• What volume do you buy per year?
• Do you require local delivery?
• What current sourcing/service issues do you have?
SF6 Sales – Summary for Success
• Research NAICS codes in your area
• Research the prospective customer
• Prepare qualifying questions
• Get the customer talking
• Find the pain
• Follow up!
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