Apparatus and method for capturing and containing sulphur hexafluoride gas leakage

1. An apparatus for capturing and containing sulphur hexafluoride gas leakage from high voltage equipment, said apparatus comprising:

at least one portable flexible gas storage container of material which is substantially impermeable to sulphur hexafluoride gas, said container including a gas inlet,

said inlet for coupling in a sealable manner to a surface surrounding a leakage source thereby capturing said sulphur hexafluoride gas in said container, said container being inflatable under pressure from the captured gas in order to accommodate up to a predetermined capacity of sulphur hexafluoride gas;

wherein said inlet is uncoupledable from said surface and sealable in order to retain said captured gas within the container.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said container has a substantially spherical or tubular construction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said container has a normally substantially flat configuration when not in use.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said container is capable of being rolled, when not in use, for convenience of storage.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said container includes a normally sealed gas outlet, which can be unsealed to remove captured sulphur hexafluoride gas from said container.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said material which is substantially impermeable to sulphur hexafluoride gas is of polyethylene construction or PVC sheeting.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the high voltage equipment is one of an electric circuit breaker, a transformer or a high voltage substation.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising:

a plurality of inlets, each being suitable for coupling to different leakage source locations.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

flexible tubing for connecting the inlet and including a plurality of valves to control a flow of gas.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising:

a plurality of portable flexible gas storage containers of material which is substantially impermeable to sulphur hexafluoride gas, said plurality of containers manifolded together,

said plurality of containers being inflatable under pressure from the captured gas in order to accommodate up to a predetermined capacity of sulphur hexafluoride gas.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a valve for opening and closing the inlet.

12. A method for capturing and containing sulphur hexafluoride gas leakage from high voltage equipment, said method comprising:

providing a portable flexible gas storage container which is substantially impermeable to sulphur hexafluoride gas, said container including a gas inlet;

coupling said inlet in a sealable manner to a surface surrounding a leakage source;

capturing said sulphur hexafluoride gas in said container, said container inflating under pressure from the captured gas and accommodating up to a predetermined volume of sulphur hexafluoride gas;

uncoupling said inlet from said surface; and

sealing said inlet, thereby retaining said captured gas in said container.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said container has a substantially spherical or tubular construction.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said container has a normally substantially flat configuration when not in use.

15. The method according to claim 12 , including the step of rolling said container, when not in use, for convenience of storage;

wherein said providing step includes providing said container in the form of a roll.

16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said coupling step includes taping said inlet directly to said surface in a substantially gas tight manner.

17. The method according to claim 12 , further including the step of removing said captured sulphur hexafluoride gas from said container via a gas outlet.

18. An apparatus for containing and transporting sulphur hexafluoride gas from a gas source to high voltage equipment, said apparatus comprising:

a portable flexible gas storage container of material which is substantially impermeable to sulphur hexafluoride gas, said container including a gas inlet,

said inlet for coupling in a sealable manner to a gas source thereby capturing said sulphur hexafluoride gas in said container, said container being inflatable under pressure from the captured gas in order to accommodate up to a predetermined capacity of sulphur hexafluoride gas, said inlet being uncoupledable from said gas source and sealable thereby retaining captured sulphur hexafluoride gas in said container for transportation.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said container has a substantially spherical or tubular construction.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said container has a normally substantially flat configuration when not in use.

21. The apparatus according claim 18 , wherein said container is capable of being rolled, when not in use, for convenience of storage.

22. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said container includes a normally sealed gas outlet, which can be unsealed to allow transfer of captured sulphur hexafluoride gas from said container to said gas enclosure.

23. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said material which is substantially impermeable to sulphur hexafluoride gas is of polyethylene construction.

24. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the high voltage equipment is one of an electric circuit breaker, a transformer or a high voltage substation.

25. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the high voltage equipment is one of an electric circuit breaker, a transformer or a high voltage substation and the gas source is a supply depot.

26. The method according to claim 12 , comprising:

re-using the captured sulphur hexafluoride gas captured in the container in another application.