The synergistic effects of hydrogen embrittlement and transient gas flow conditions on integrity assessment of a precracked steel pipeline

We are reporting in this study the hydrogen permeation in the lattice structure of a steel pipeline designed for natural gas transportation by investigating the influence of blending gaseous hydrogen into natural gas flow and resulted internal pressure values on the structural integrity of cracked pipes. The presence of cracks may provoke pipeline failure and hydrogen leakage. The auto-ignition of hydrogen leaks, although been small, leads to a flame difficult to be seen. The latter makes such a phenomenon extremely dangerous as explosions became very likely to happen. In this paper, a reliable method is presented that can be used to predict the acceptable defect in order to reduce risks caused by pipe failure due to hydrogen embrittlement. The presented model takes into account the synergistic effects of transient gas flow conditions in pipelines and hydrogen embrittlement of steel material due to pressurized hydrogen gas permeation. It is found that blending hydrogen gas into natural gas pipelines increases the internal load on the pipeline walls due to overpressure values that may be reached in a transient gas flow regime. Also, the interaction between transient hydrogen gas flow and embrittlement of API 5L X52 steel pipeline was investigated using Failure Assessment Diagram (FAD) and the results have shown that transient flow enhances pipeline failure due to hydrogen permeation. It was shown that hydrogen embrittlement of steel pipelines in contact with the hydrogen environment, together with the transient gas flow and significantly increased transient pressure values, also increases the probability of failure of a cracked pipeline. Such a situation threatens the integrity of high stress pipelines, especially under the real working conditions of hydrogen gas transportation.     

Feasibility analysis of blending hydrogen into natural gas networks

Hydrogen fuel has the potential to mitigate the negative effects of greenhouse gases and climate change by neutralizing carbon emissions. Transporting large volume of hydrogen through pipelines needs hydrogen-specific infrastructure such as hydrogen pipelines and compressors, which can become an economic barrier. Thus, the idea of blending hydrogen into existing natural gas pipelines arises as a potential alternative for transporting hydrogen economically by using existing natural gas grids. However, there are several potential issues that must be considered when blending hydrogen into natural gas pipelines. Hydrogen has different physical and chemical properties from natural gas, including a smaller size and lighter weight, which require higher operating pressures to deliver the same amount of energy as natural gas. Additionally, hydrogen's small molecular size and lower ignition energy make it more likely to permeate through pipeline materials and seals, leading to degradation, and its wider flammability limits make it a safety hazard when leaks occur. In this study, we investigate these potential issues through simulation and technical surveys. We develop a gas hydraulic model to simulate the physical characteristics of a transmission and a distribution pipeline. This model is used throughout the study to visualize the potential impacts of switching from natural gas to hydrogen, and to investigate potential problems and solutions. Furthermore, we develop a Real-Time Transient Model (RTTM) to address the compatibility of current computational pipeline monitoring (CPM) based leak detection methods with blended hydrogen. Finally, we suggest the optimal hydrogen concentration for this model, and investigate the amount of carbon reduction that could be achieved, while considering the energy needs of the system.     

Decompression modelling of natural gas-hydrogen mixtures using the Peng-Robinson equation of state

A wide application of hydrogen energy is seen as a viable strategy to reduce the excessive release of CO₂ in the atmosphere. Large demand requires the hydrogen to be distributed through pipelines. While blending hydrogen into existing natural gas pipelines is recommended as a transition option to progressively increase the energy share of hydrogen, it is important to develop a better understanding of the decompression characteristics of Natural Gas-Hydrogen (NGH2) mixtures, to ensure that the pipelines are capable of arresting a running ductile fracture. In this paper, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models incorporating the Peng-Robinson (PR) Equation Of State (EOS) were used to simulate the decompression of NGH2 mixtures. The PR EOS was extended to gas mixtures using the van der Waals mixing rules and three types of combining rules. Two shock tube tests were modelled to validate the performance of the PR EOS with different combining rules. The model was also validated through comparison with the GERG-2008 EOS. In addition, decompression characteristics of a typical NG blended with 0%–30% hydrogen were studied.     

Study on the stratification of the blended gas in the pipeline with hydrogen into natural gas

When blending hydrogen into existing natural gas pipelines, the non-uniform concentration distribution caused by the density difference between hydrogen and natural gas will result in the fluctuations of local hydrogen partial pressure, which may exceed the set one, leading to pipeline failure, leakage, measurement error, and terminal appliance. To solve the problem, the H₂–CH₄ stratification in the horizontal and undulated pipe was investigated experimentally and with numerical simulations. The results show that in the gas stagnant situation, hydrogen-methane blending process will cause an obvious stratification phenomenon. The relations between the elevation, pressure, hydrogen fraction, etc., and the gas stratification are figured out. Moreover, even when the blended gas flows at a low rate, the hydrogen-caused stratification should also be considered. Thereafter, the blended gas should be controlled into a situation with low pressure and high speed, which could help to set the pressure, speed, the fraction of H₂.     

Advancing in the decarbonized future of natural gas transmission networks through a CFD study

The injection of green hydrogen into the natural gas grid is a way to decarbonize the gas sector and build an economic transport route for the large-scale delivery of hydrogen. The suitability of the natural gas infrastructure for this purpose depends on the impact that hydrogen may have on the correct operation of its components and understanding the new flow conditions in the system is essential for this aim. Computational studies can anticipate the expected environment in the pipe system, assessing the readiness of the system. However, the experience on this topic is not extensive enough and deeper understanding is necessary. Here we show a CFD study to simulate the transport of H₂/NG blends in a gas setup with the main characteristics of injection sites and gas pipelines representatives of the transmission gas network. This setup considers a blending station, the pumping and injection procedure, and different pipelines geometries to predict the behavior of various mixtures of H₂/NG. It can be seen how (1) a good mixing is achieved in the blending station after a pipe length equivalent to 20–30 diameters is reached; (2) pumping gas by a piston type compressor shows pulsations in the flow regardless the composition of the blend that can be damped implementing mitigation measurements; and (3) asymmetries in the flow are found when the direction of the fluid changes after section reduction, but 20 diameters downstream of the reduction the flow is fully developed.     

Options of natural gas pipeline reassignment for hydrogen: Cost assessment for a Germany case study

The uncertain role of the natural gas infrastructure in the decarbonized energy system and the limitations of hydrogen blending raise the question of whether natural gas pipelines can be economically utilized for the transport of hydrogen. To investigate this question, this study derives cost functions for the selected pipeline reassignment methods. By applying geospatial hydrogen supply chain modeling, the technical and economic potential of natural gas pipeline reassignment during a hydrogen market introduction is assessed.The results of this study show a technically viable potential of more than 80% of the analyzed representative German pipeline network. By comparing the derived pipeline cost functions, it could be derived that pipeline reassignment can reduce the hydrogen transmission costs by more than 60%. Finally, a countrywide analysis of pipeline availability constraints for the year 2030 shows a cost reduction of the transmission system by 30% in comparison to a newly built hydrogen pipeline system.     

Experimental study of the combustion of natural gas and high-hydrogen content syngases in a radiant porous media burner

The primary objective of this work is to study the blending of natural gas in equimolar proportions with three high hydrogen content syngases in a radiant porous media burner. We examined the effects of the composition of the syngases, the fuel-to-air ratio and the thermal input on the flame stability, the radiation efficiency and the pollutant emissions (CO and NOx). In this study, we emulated the syngases with H₂–CO mixtures, in which the H₂ to CO ratio was varied between 1.5 and 3. Additionally, pure natural gas was also used as a base fuel for comparison. The thermal inputs evaluated in this study correspond to two values (300 and 500 kW/m2) found in practical applications. The results indicate that the thermal input and the fuel-to-air ratio significantly influenced the temperature profile in the radiant porous media burner, the radiation efficiency, and the pollutant emissions. On the other hand, contrary to what was observed in other studies for lower hydrogen concentrations, we found that substituting natural gas with high hydrogen content syngases (up to 50%) affected the flame stability limits. Significant differences were also observed for the radiation efficiencies and pollutant emissions.     

A theoretical framework for calculating full-scale jet fires induced by high-pressure hydrogen/natural gas transient leakage

Previous experimental results on full-scale jet fires induced by high-pressure hydrogen/natural gas transient leakage can only be suitable for solving practical engineering problems, or testing the limitation of previous models. Thus, this paper presents a theoretical framework for the high-pressure hydrogen/natural gas leakage and the subsequent jet fire. The proposed framework consists of a transient leakage model, a notional nozzle model, a jet flame size model, a radiative fraction correlation and a line source radiation model. The framework is validated by comparing the model predictions and experimental measurements of mass flow rate, total flame height and thermal radiation field of hydrogen, natural gas, hydrogen/natural gas mixture jet fires with a flame height up to 100 m. The comparison shows that the theoretical framework can give considerable predictions to properties of full-scale jet fires induced by high-pressure hydrogen/natural gas transient leakage.     

氢混天然气燃气轮机加湿低氮燃烧性能研究

为了解贫预混燃烧室天然气掺氢加湿燃烧时的性能变化和容许加湿范围,解决氢混燃气轮机NO_x排放超标问题,以某燃气轮机燃烧室为研究对象,数值研究了掺氢比和加湿比对燃烧性能及污染物排放特性的影响。结果表明：燃料无加湿条件下,燃烧室出口CO和CO₂排放值随着掺氢比的增加而减小,较高燃烧温度将导致热力型NO_x排放值增加,掺氢比达到0.2以上时,NO_x排放已超出环保限值;燃料加湿条件下,随着加湿程度增加,燃气出口平均流速及水蒸气组分含量均增加,燃烧筒内全局温度、CO₂和NO_x排放值均降低,CO排放值先降低后增加;掺氢天然气加湿可实现低氮燃烧,考虑到低掺氢工况燃气轮机功率输出效能和高掺氢工况燃烧性能恶化问题,水蒸气加湿量不宜过多,当掺氢比为0.3时,推荐燃料加湿比为0.463。     

Research and demonstration on hydrogen compatibility of pipelines: a review of current status and challenges

Hydrogen transportation by pipelines gradually becomes a critical engineering route in the worldwide adaptation of hydrogen as a form of clean energy. However, due to the hydrogen embrittlement effect, the compatibility of linepipe steels and associated welds with hydrogen is a major concern when designing hydrogen-carrying pipelines. When hydrogen enters the steels, their ductility, fracture resistance, and fatigue properties can be adversely altered. This paper reviews the status of several demonstration projects for natural gas-hydrogen blending and pure hydrogen transportation, the pipeline materials used and their operating parameters. This paper also compares the current standards of materials specifications for hydrogen pipeline systems from different parts of the world. The hydrogen compatibility and tolerance of varying grades of linepipe steels and the relevant testing methods for assessing the compatibility are then discussed, and the conservatism or the inadequacies of the test conditions of the current standards are pointed out for future improvement.     

An MILP model for the reformation of natural gas pipeline networks with hydrogen injection

A mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model is proposed for the reformation of natural gas pipelines. The model is based on the topology of existing pipelines, the load and pressure at each node and the design factors of the region and minimizes the annual substitution depreciation cost of pipelines, the annual construction depreciation cost of compressor stations and the operating cost of existing compressor stations. Considering the nonlinear pressure drop equations, the model is linearized by a piecewise method and solved by the Gurobi optimizer. Two cases of natural gas pipeline networks with hydrogen injection are presented. Several adjustments are applied to the original natural gas pipeline network to ensure that our design scheme can satisfy the safety and economic requirements of gas transportation. Thus, this work is likely to serve as a decision-support tool for the reformation of pipeline networks with hydrogen injection.     

模拟沼气发动机掺氢燃烧的试验研究

在一台改装的单缸柴油机上进行了模拟沼气掺氢燃烧的试验。模拟沼气由天然气含量为50%～80%,CO2含量为20%～50%组成,掺烧氢气的比例为10%～40%。结果表明,随着模拟沼气中CO2比例的增加,发动机动力性降低,排放污染物中CO和NOx排放减少,但HC排放增加。适当增加模拟沼气发动机的掺氢比例,发动机缸内最高压力和最大转矩升高,过多的掺氢比例会降低发动机的动力性。排放污染物中随着掺氢比例的增加,CO排放增多,HC排放减少,NOx排放量与模拟沼气中CO2的比例有关。     

A review of technical and regulatory limits for hydrogen blending in natural gas pipelines

There is rising interest globally in the use of hydrogen for the provision of electricity or heat to industry, transport, and other applications in low-carbon energy systems. While there is attention to build out dedicated hydrogen infrastructure in the long-term, blending hydrogen into the existing natural gas pipeline network is also thought to be a promising strategy for incorporating hydrogen in the near-term. However, hydrogen injection into the existing gas grid poses additional challenges and considerations related to the ability of current gas infrastructure to operate with blended hydrogen levels. This review paper focuses on analyzing the current understanding of how much hydrogen can be integrated into the gas grid from an operational perspective and identifies areas where more research is needed. The review discusses the technical limits in hydrogen blending for both transmission and distribution networks; facilities in both systems are analyzed with respect to critical operational parameters, such as decrease in energy density, increased flow speed and pressure losses. Safety related challenges such as, embrittlement, leakage and combustion are also discussed. The review also summarizes current regulatory limits to hydrogen blending in different countries, including ongoing or proposed pilot hydrogen blending projects.     

掺氢比例对氢混天然气燃气轮机运行特性影响的研究

采用模块化的建模方法建立燃气轮机的变工况特性预估模型,对氢气掺混比为0~100%时燃气轮机在不同负荷下的运行参数、部件运行特性及机组能耗进行了计算分析。结果表明：氢气掺混比的提升将使压气机进气量下降,喘振裕度减小;但由于压比的提升,透平有效比焓降提高,机组功率增大,且在高氢气掺混比下燃气轮机的发电效率得到提升,相比于纯天然气工况,10%,20%,40%,100%氢气掺混比下燃气轮机满负荷的发电效率可分别提高0.03%,0.06%,0.14%和0.86%。     

Technical prospects for commercial and residential distribution and utilization of hydrogen

Hydrogen has been suggested as a fuel gas to eventually replace natural gas in commercial and residential heating and cooking applications. After transmission from a production site to a city gate, the delivery of hydrogen would be through the pipelines of conventional (natural gas) distribution systems. It would be combusted in appliances with suitably modified burners. Through a recent technology survey sponsored by NASA (Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama) and through experimental and analytical efforts at the Institute of Gas Technology, we have assembled preliminary technical assessments for the distribution and utilization of hydrogen in this role.

The flow rates and pressures of a gas distribution system using hydrogen probably will be different from those for natural gas. Increased operating pressures are predicted for hydrogen flow conditions of equivalent (to natural gas) energy delivery. Procedures will have to accommodate various safety aspects, but leakage is not considered an especially severe problem with hydrogen.

Operating conditions for appliance burners will be different for hydrogen in terms of primary air and probably delivery pressures. Flashback and noisy operation must be prevented. Replacement of burners for hydrogen operation is possible.     

Leakage and diffusion behavior of a buried pipeline of hydrogen-blended natural gas

Buried pipelines are one method of conservation transfer for widely used gases such as natural gas and hydrogen. The safety of these pipelines is of great importance because of the potential leakage risks posed by the flammable gas and the special properties of the hydrogen mixture. Estimating the leakage behavior and quantifying the diffusion range outside the pipeline are important but challenging goals due to the hydrogen mixture and presence of soil. This study provides essential information about the diffusion behavior and concentration distribution of underground hydrogen and natural gas mixture leakages. Therefore, a large-scale experimental system was developed to simulate high-pressure leaks of hydrogen mixture natural gas from small holes in three different directions from a pipeline buried in soil. The diffusion of hydrogen-doped natural gas in soil was experimentally measured under different conditions, such as different hydrogen mixture ratios, release pressures, and leakage directions. The experimental results verified the applicability of the gas leakage mass flow model, with an error of 6.85%. When a larger proportion of a single component was present in the hydrogen-doped natural gas, the leakage pressure showed a greater diffusion range. In addition, the diffusion range of hydrogen-doped natural gas in the leakage direction was larger at 3 o'clock than that at 12 o'clock. The hydrogen blend carried methane and diffused, which shortened the methane saturation time. Moreover, a quantitative relationship between the concentration of hydrogen-doped natural gas and the diffusion distance over which the hydrogen-doped natural gas reached the lower limit of the explosion was obtained by quantitative analysis of the experimental data.     

MILD条件下氢-天然气混合燃烧特性及排放物分析

针对目前天然气掺氢后燃烧效率及氮氧化物排放研究较少的问题,应用组分输运模型、涡耗散概念燃烧模型和Do辐射模型,结合GRI-22化学反应机理,建立柔和燃烧模拟模型,通过与实验结果对比验证了模型的可靠性,进一步应用该模型分析不同掺氢比例对燃烧特性的影响。结果表明,随着掺氢比例增加,燃料与氧化剂的混合程度逐渐提高,混合气体的径向分量不断减小;由于反应速率和放热速率提高,燃烧器内部的温度升高,热力型氮氧化物含量增高,主要集中于燃烧器后端;燃料进口速度增大会导致燃烧器内燃烧不完全、出口处温度降低,氧气浓度升高,氮氧化物含量降低。研究发现,天然气中掺入氢气更有利于达到柔和燃烧条件。     

Study on leakage and explosion consequence for hydrogen blended natural gas in urban distribution networks

It appears to be the most economical means of transporting large quantities of hydrogen over great distances by the existing natural gas pipeline network. However, the leakage and diffusion behavior of urban hydrogen blended natural gas and the evolution law of explosion characteristics are still unclear. In this work, a Computational Fluid Dynamics three-dimensional simulation model of semi-confined space in urban streets is developed to study the diffusion process and explosion characteristics of hydrogen-blended natural gas. The influence mechanism of hydrogen blending ratio and ambient wind speed on the consequences of explosion accident is analyzed. And the dangerous area with different environmental wind effects is determined through comparative analysis based on the most dangerous scenarios. Results indicate that the traffic flow changes the diffusion path of the jet, the flammable gas cloud forms a complex profile in many obstacles, high congestion level lead to more serious explosion accidents. Wind effect keeps the flammable gas cloud near the vehicle flow, the narrow gaps between the vehicles aggravate the expansion of the flammable gas cloud. When the wind direction is consistent with the leakage direction, hydrogen blended natural gas is gathered in the recirculation zone due to the vortex effect, which results in more serious accident consequences. With the increase in hydrogen blending ratio, the higher content of H and OH in the gas mixture significantly increases the premixed burning rate, the maximum overpressure rises rapidly when the hydrogen blend level increases beyond 40%. The results can provide a basis for construction safety design, risk assessment of leakage and explosion hazards, and emergency response in hydrogen blended natural gas distribution systems.     

Investigation of photovoltaic-hydrogen power system for a real house in Turkey: Hydrogen blending to natural gas effects on system design

In the study, the effects of hydrogen mixing studies at the rate of 20% to the natural gas system which is an ongoing study in Turkey, on the photovoltaic system (PV) is investigated using a real house consumption. Providing the annual electrical energy consumption (1936,83  kWh) and 20% of natural gas consumption (62,4 m³) of a real house with hydrogen is included in the study. A PV-hydrogen system is theoretically investigated to provide the energy required for hydrogen production from solar panels. Hydrogen blending effects on PV size, capacity usage, and carbon footprint are analyzed. Thus, the contribution was also made to the “green hydrogen” works and reduction of the carbon footprint of the house. It was found that the required hydrogen for electricity can be provided 52,5 m² solar panel area and 14,28% increase in this area and installed power can provide an amount of hydrogen that need for 20% hydrogen blending to the natural gas system. The overall system capacity usage decreased when the system is used for 20% hydrogen blending to the natural gas system. The carbon footprint of the house was decreased by 67,5%. If the hydrogen has not been blended with 20% natural gas, this ratio would have been 59,2%.