Hydrogen transport by pipelines and the materials compatibility in high-pressure hydrogen gas environments
Presenter: Dr. Frank Cheng
Organized by: Interdisciplinary Research Center for Advanced Materials
06 Mar 2023 @ 01:30 PM
Building 15, 4th Floor, Auditorium
It is generally believed that hydrogen, as a “green” and “emission-free” fuel, will play a critical role in energy transition and achievement of the 2050 net-zero target. Hydrogen delivery is integral to the entire value chain of hydrogen economy. Pipelines provide an economical and effective means to transport hydrogen with increased capacity over wide ranges and distances. Particularly, repurposing existing natural gas pipelines is a “low-cost option for delivering large volumes of hydrogen”.
Safety is paramount for hydrogen transport by pipelines. Steel pipelines are prone to hydrogen embrittlement (HE) in high-pressure hydrogen gas, in either pure or blended form, compromising structural integrity and causing failures of the pipelines. Compared with HE occurrence in aqueous environments, the HE of hydrogen pipelines is associated with distinct features. Major gaps exist in both fundamental and applied aspects. This talk will provide fundamentals of the gaseous HE of steels, detailing unique features of the problem. Additional challenges resulting from the conversion of existing “aged” pipelines for hydrogen service will be discussed. Technical gaps are analyzed, and the latest research progresses are presented.