A quantum chemical prediction on arc interruption capability of dielectric gases

Abstract

The use of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) as an electrical insulator and arc‐quenching gas in high‐voltage equipment raises serious environmental concerns. The search of a replacement gas for SF6 is hindered by a priori assessment on its interruption performance. The routine fluid or mathematic magneto‐hydrodynamic models for arc burning and extinguishing are too complex to be practical for virtual screening. Herein a state‐of‐the‐art quantum chemical model to predict the interruption capability of the dielectric gases straightforwardly has been established in terms of the rate of rise of the recovery voltage (RRRV). On the basis of the molecular electrostatic potentials, five sets of descriptors, including the global statistical parameters and , the site‐specific parameter ΔVs, the total positive surface area As+, augmented with the product of polarizability and dipole moment αμ, were optimized to reveal the inherent mechanisms for interruption and thus a viable structure–activity relationship mode for RRRV has been developed with the correlation coefficient 0.975. Theoretical RRRV relative to SF6 = 100 for all the known dielectric gases are in good agreement with the experimental data by a mean absolute deviation of 3.6. Accordingly, the perfluorinated cycloalkenes and alkynes, in particular, 1,3,3,3‐tetrafluoropropyne, are found to be the promising candidates as the replacement dielectric gases for SF6.