The challenge of finding an alternative, ecological substitute for insulation gas, SF6, for the Mexican Electrical Industry
< 01/28/2010 - by amjuarez >
I am luck y enough to participate in one of the most prestigious plasma research groups in Mexico. Together with my colleague Jaime de Urquijo we are enlarging the research capabilities of the Plasma laboratory at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. As a result of this hard work we have been approached by the Comsión Federal de Electricidad,whis is the the national electrical company in Mexico and the leading research institute in electrical research (IIE) , in order to explore possible gaseous substitutes of SF6, which is the insulating molecule used in power transmision lines and switchgear. Our research has always been directed to the fundamental properties of molecules ( ionization, capture, dissociation, fotoionization) and transport properties of electrons and ions in plasmas. In this context it came as a a nice surprise to learn that these fundamental studies may have an impact in a problem with spans a wide variety of aspects ( Economical and ecological being the most evident) of national and worlwide importance. Mexico is a burocratic country, so we are still dealing with paperwork , but we are hopeful that our contribution on this particular problem will be addressed.
I will keep you posted
