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SF6 in your linear accelerator

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Melting polar ice

• SF6, sulphur hexafluoride, is the most vigorous and damaging of all greenhouse gases.

• The Global Warming Potential of SF6 is +/- 23.000 times as powerful as CO2’s.

• SF6 remains in the atmosphere for well over 3. 000 years.

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SF6 in your linear accelerator

What is SF6? SF6 does not occur or appear in nature. It is synthesized and consists of 1 sulphur atom and 6 fluorine atoms. Sulphur hexafluoride is synthesized from a reaction with pure basic sulphur and fluorine ; S + 3F2

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Approved applications of SF6

In middle and high voltage systems/switchgear Medical in eye surgery

and circuit breakers

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Function of SF6 in a high voltage switchgear

SF6 has excellent dielectric properties and more importantly is an arc-interrupting medium.

Lifespan of SF6 gas in a high voltage switch gear SF6 decomposes in several toxic, and sometimes corrosive products, when used in an open arc. Through the reaction of the arc with SF6 toxic products can be formed such as:

• Disulfurdecafluoride (S2F10)

• Thionylfluoride (SOF2)

• Sulphurdioxide (SO2)

• Hydrogensulfide (H2S)

• Sulfurylfluoride (SO2F2) • Hydrogenfluoride (HF)

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Introducing…

BTC B.V. Albert Thijsstraat 65

6471 WX Eygelshoven, The Netherlands

Regeneration, recycling and treatment of gases, liquids and liquefied gases

0031-88-1161010 info@btcbtc.com www.btcbtc.com

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What is waste?

Already long before the implementation of the European Regulation EC.2006.12 was a fact in 2006, jurisprudence was available to determine and conclude what is a product and what is waste. When is a product no longer considered to be a product, but waste.

The conclusion can be simply explained. When a product does not have the same characteristics as the virgin version, then it is safe to see this product as waste

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Limitation in production of virgin material

The first European Regulations subject the production, use, recovery and treatment (recycling and disposal) of amongst others but specifically SF6 were already drawn up and implemented in 2000 en 2006 :

• EC.2037.2000 subject ozone depleting substances and

• EC.842.2006 subject fluorinated greenhouse gases

These regulations specify strict guidelines and requirements for SF6 with regard to :

• Production

• Trade,

• Use,

• Recovery,

• Treatment/disposal. After the finalisation of both the protocols of Montreal and Kyoto, both regulations have been updated in resp. 2009 en 2014 (EC.1005.2009 en EC.517.2014).

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These regulations, which are already implemented and in force since 2000 en 2006 describe in detail;

• For which applications SF6 still may or may not be used.

• How SF6 needs to be recovered.

• Who is authorised to recover SF6 and is authorised to perform maintenance on an installation that contains SF6.

• The specifications for requirements of authorised personnel and their certification.

• How all related activities need to be documented including report writing and notification of SF6 content on the instrument or installation.

• How the recovered SF6 may be treated or disposed.

• What the requirements are for packages that contain recovered SF6.

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Daily practice

Present situation :

When retracting SF6 from your instrument the SF6 is caught in a bag.

This bag is opened and emptied when people are going outside.

This is of course not legal, but personnel can also come in contact with toxic and corrosive products like S2F10,

SOF2, H2S, SO2, SO2F2, HF, SF4.

Every time +/- 200 gr SF6 or more is released into the atmosphere.

In case of only 200 grams this already equals 4700 kg CO2 equivalent of greenhouse gases.

Example ; in case of 120 accelerators this results already in CO2 equivalent of 564 ton greenhouse gases.

For comparison this equals almost 1.000 automobile (car) emissions per year.

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Proposition BTC

Emptying the accelerator by using a recovery pump and suitable collection cylinder

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Example of pump on the backside of a linear accelerator.

The white knob in the middle is the location for recovery of the SF6.

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The hose of the BTC recovery pump is connected to the location where the white knob used to be

(= de pump of your linear accelerator)

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BTC SF6 recovery pump with suitable cylinder

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SF6 content in a linear accelerator

Content of SF6 in your linear accelerator is about 150 to 200 grams.

After having used the recovery cylinder 5 times (in case of a 5 liter cylinder) it has to be returned for treatment.

Totally to be treated in this case ; SF6 - 5 x 200 grams = 1.000 grams.

The SF6 recovery cylinder is collected by BTC. We will arrange all logistics and any administrative issues. We will arrange for safe transport and all applicable legal documents for transporting and shipping hazardous waste.

+ + =

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Available high pressure cylinders in 2, 5 or 10 liters capacity

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BTC is pleased to offer you our services as follows:

• Supply of approved recovery cylinder(s) for collecting SF6 from your linear accelerator including : all mandatory documents and sticker to be put on the accelerator where you can fill in the next date for maintenance.

• Supply (1 time only) of vacuum pump including tubings and couplings, ready to use. It comes with clear and simple user guidelines.

• Assistance and guidance for achieving the necessary SF6 certificate.

• Full logisitical and administrative service for collection of the recovery cylinder(s) with hazarouds waste including all paperwork. At time of collection we will replace the full cylinder(s) for empty cylinder(s).

• Total waste control and traceability. Environmental friendly treatment. Supply of waste treatment declaration.

• Supply of fresh, virgin SF6 (quality according to IEC 60376) in small cylinders (0,5, 1, 2, 5 or 10 liter)

.

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Thank you for your attention…

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Also on behalf of…

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BTC B.V. Albert Thijsstraat 65

6471 WX, Eygelshoven, The Netherlands

Telephone: +31(0)88-1161010

Fax: +31(0)88/1161019

E-mail: info@btcbtc.com

Website: www.btcbtc.com

Registration The Netherlands: LI508909VIHB

Registration Belgium: 76125/E/13046

Registration Germany: 62815-478.M.0265/BTC

Waste handler number The Netherlands: 11104

Environmental permit for hazardous waste treatment, gas production- and transfilling, equipment assembly- and testing: 10i0011832 – 2010-0015, 12i0005766, Vg00001991-2015-1292. Reclaim SF6: BE20150317-10