Does hydrogen increase the risk of pipeline leaks: How to address it?
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According to research results published by the Argonne National Laboratory in the United States, the mixing of hydrogen in existing natural gas pipelines may be restricted, as hydrogen increases the risk of pipeline leaks. The basis of this research is the incorporation of 30% by volume of hydrogen into natural gas pipelines. A federally **funded multidisciplinary science and engineering research center located in Lemont, Illinois, studied mixing hydrogen into existing natural gas pipelines at a 30% volume ratio. They found that this resulted in a relatively modest 6% reduction in lifetime greenhouse gas emissions. According to estimates from the Argonne **Laboratory, an important factor is the finding that when the hydrogen content in natural gas reaches 30%, leaks in the pipeline network can double. Previous estimates of the life-cycle benefits of mixed gases in existing pipelines were primarily based on emission reductions associated with hydrogen production and combustion in end uses. However, when hydrogen was injected into the pipeline, the final figure changed due to higher transmission and distribution emissions. The energy demand of compression stations is also increasing. As a result, the upstream and downstream benefits of using zero-emission fuels **decrease**. Compression and leakage have a significant impact on the decarburization effect of hydrogen blending. At a web seminar hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy on October 26, Amgad Elgowainy, a senior scientist and distinguished researcher at Argonne **Laboratory, explained: “This is mainly because I replaced fossil molecules with green molecules, but most of the carbon footprint and gas leakage resulting from compression were offset.” ”
When 30% hydrogen mixture was introduced into the natural gas pipeline, the pipeline and flow rate remained essentially unchanged. In other words, it has been pointed out that if operators want to increase the flow rate in order to deliver the same amount of energy as a pure natural gas system, a 30% hydrogen mixture will result in a 100% increase in emissions during transmission. In summary, although mixing hydrogen into natural gas pipelines presents challenges such as increased leakage risks and changes in the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP), **the Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has identified viable solutions. These measures include replacing pipe sections and pipe loops that are not suitable for transporting hydrogen with pipes made of appropriate materials and of sufficient thickness, as well as adding compression stations. Although these methods may increase capital and operational costs, NREL’s case studies show that pipeline recycling is the most cost-effective strategy. Interestingly, the overall impact of these changes on energy delivery costs was found to be minimal, which is an unexpected but encouraging result. These findings indicate that, despite the challenges, there are viable strategies to effectively integrate hydrogen into our existing energy infrastructure without significantly increasing energy transmission costs.
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The risk of hydrogen leakage mainly lies in the hydrogen erosion and hydrogen embrittlement of pipes caused by hydrogen atoms.
Can it be solved by improving the materials?
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Crispness and hydrogen erosion are physical phenomena, not chemical reactions; existing material technologies can address them. The main issue lies in the manufacturing process – low-carbon and high-density processes are required, with no defects such as voids, holes, or sand inclusions allowed. All of these will accelerate the occurrence of hydrogen erosion and hydrogen embrittlement.