【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Processing Equipment】1942–2024: China’s first long-distance high-pressure pipeline capable of transporting hydrogen passes its initial inspection

【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Processing Equipment】From 1943 to 2024: World’s largest new offshore floating production and storage tank ship with a capacity of 2 million barrels delivered https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-5668813-1-1.html (Source: Haichuan Chemical Industry Forum)

This post was last edited by Desert Fish on 2024-8-8 at 10:54 ------------------------------------ The Baotou-Linhe Gas Pipeline Project was invested in and constructed by Inner Mongolia West Natural Gas Company. It starts from Jiuyuan District in Baotou City, passes through Wulat Qianqi County and Wuyuan County in Bayannur City, and finally reaches Linhe District. The total length of the pipeline is 258 kilometers, of which 235 kilometers are main pipelines and 23 kilometers are branch pipelines. The designed pressure of the pipelines is 6.3 megapascals. There are 10 valve rooms and 3 stations along the entire route, with a maximum gas transmission capacity of 1.2 billion cubic meters per year. 　This project is the first long-distance high-pressure pipeline in China to have the capability for transporting hydrogen, and it was invested in and constructed by Western Natural Gas Company. It is a key natural gas infrastructure project in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, as well as a key project under the region’s 14th Five-Year Plan for the construction of oil and gas pipelines. The project will enable the effective connection of the Changqing Gas Field–Hohhot double-pipe gas transmission line in Nalin River, Wushen Banner, Ordos City, with the Changqing Gas Field–Wuhai–Linhé gas transmission line. It will meet the gas supply needs of industrial users in Bayannur City, Baotou City, and Wuhai City, as well as those in the respective banners, counties, and districts, thereby facilitating the interconnection of gas pipelines in the central and western regions of Inner Mongolia. It is reported that the construction technologies employed in this project are among the best in the country and even in the world. Once completed, the project will not only be able to transport natural gas but also supply green hydrogen to downstream industries such as steel and chemicals. This will help reduce the costs associated with hydrogen transportation and storage, improve the efficiency of new energy utilization, and contribute to Inner Mongolia’s efforts to optimize its energy structure, ensure energy security, and achieve the goals of \"carbon peak\" and \"carbon neutrality\". At the same time, as the site of a model transshipment hub for natural gas companies in western Inner Mongolia, Bayannur will be able to provide valuable references and experience for similar projects in terms of long-distance high-pressure pipeline initiatives in the future. At the same time, in order to accelerate the development of the hydrogen energy industry in Inner Mongolia and overcome the bottlenecks in hydrogen transportation, Western Natural Gas Company has planned to build pure hydrogen pipelines that start from the new energy hub in the central and northern parts of Kubuqi, crossing the Yellow River and connecting to the Baotou-Linhe gas pipeline. These pipelines will provide a transport solution for projects such as photovoltaic hydrogen production by China Three Gorges Corporation, State Power Investment Corporation, Huaneng Group, and Yili Group, as well as green hydrogen-based smelting operations carried out by Baotou Steel Group. In the future, it will play a significant role in promoting the development of clean energy supply bases in the autonomous region, as well as in the utilization of hydrogen energy and the upgrading of the industrial structure, thereby contributing to energy security through the natural gas resources of the western region.

The hydrogen-infused high-pressure gas pipeline project also faces challenges; the technology involved in such pipelines is highly complex. Changes in parameters such as the concentration of the additive, flow rate, and temperature can affect the physical and chemical properties of the mixture within the pipeline, thereby having varying degrees of impact on the pipeline materials, equipment, and instruments. Therefore, strict technical standards need to be established, along with testing and verification, risk assessment, and monitoring and control at all stages such as design, construction, and operation, in order to ensure the quality, safety, and stability of the pipeline system. Hydrogen-infused high-pressure gas pipelines need to ensure the quality, safety, and stability of both natural gas and green hydrogen. Due to the different requirements and standards for natural gas and green hydrogen at the point of use, it is necessary to ensure that the quality of these two energy sources remains unchanged and uncontaminated during transportation, while also enabling their effective separation or utilization as needed. In addition, it is necessary to take into account potential safety hazards such as leaks and explosions, as well as stability issues like supply and demand fluctuations, and to implement corresponding preventive and response measures. The project adopts advanced construction technologies from both domestic and international sources. Once completed, it will not only be able to transport natural gas but also supply green hydrogen to downstream industries such as steel and chemicals. This will significantly reduce the costs associated with transporting and storing green hydrogen, while improving energy utilization efficiency. It will thus provide support for Inner Mongolia in adjusting its energy structure, ensuring energy security, and achieving the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. At the same time, Bayannur, which is developing model transfer hub projects in the western region, will also provide valuable references and experience for similar projects in terms of long-distance high-pressure pipeline projects.

Materials for hydrogen transmission pipelines produced by Baotou Steel and Shougang: The \"Baotou-Linhe Gas Pipeline Project\" is the first long-distance, high-pressure, large-diameter, high-strength spiral submerged arc welded steel pipe pipeline for hydrogen transport in China, constructed by Inner Mongolia West Natural Gas Company. The pipeline is 235 kilometers long, operates at a pressure of 6.3 megapascals, has a diameter of 457 millimeters, and uses X52MS grade spiral welded pipes. During this critical period of development for hydrogen energy, Baotou Iron and Steel pays close attention to the construction of hydrogen pipelines in China, particularly those located in the vicinity of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It makes every effort to develop high-performance, high-grade pipeline pipes as well as related steel grades that are competitive in the market, thereby laying a solid foundation for Baotou Iron and Steel’s products to enter new markets in the field of pipeline construction. With the accelerated development of hydrogen pipeline construction in China, Baogang Steel Pipe Co., Ltd. has set its sights on hydrogen pipeline projects in the surrounding areas of Inner Mongolia. Starting in August 2022, the sales staff of Baogang Steel Pipe Co., Ltd. began to follow up on the Baotou-Linhe gas pipeline project, getting involved at an early stage in the R&D efforts of downstream users. A task force for the development of hydrogen transport pipelines was established to develop solutions tailored to the users’ needs, and the company won the bid in January 2023. Once the project is put into operation, hydrogen-blended transportation will be feasible; this requires very strict specifications regarding the various performance characteristics of the pipeline materials. To date, there are few examples domestically or internationally of pipeline projects of this type being constructed using high-grade, large-diameter seamless pipes. By carrying out a series of research efforts on smelting process technologies, Baotou Steel has managed to achieve ultra-low phosphorus levels. As a result, the materials used for hydrogen transmission pipelines possess properties such as ease of welding, resistance to hydrogen embrittlement, resistance to low-temperature fracture, and high toughness under hydrogen-filled conditions, representing a historic breakthrough in terms of technology.

Since 2021, Huayou Steel Pipe Company, in collaboration with Shougang’s pipeline steel team, has been involved in providing support throughout the entire project process. Through research on factors such as the composition of the rolled coils, rolling processes, microstructure, and the impact of hydrogen on metal materials, they have successfully developed hot-rolled coils and spiral submerged arc welded pipes suitable for use in hydrogen-containing pipelines. For key processes such as forming and welding, numerous welding tests and adjustments to process parameters were carried out to achieve low residual stress in the steel pipes as well as high toughness in the welded areas. These pipes demonstrated excellent performance in hydrogen resistance tests, earning full recognition from Western Inner Mongolia Natural Gas Company. In 2023, orders amounting to over 11,000 tons were received, and in April of this year, the first batch of spiral submerged arc welded steel pipes designed for hydrogen-containing fluid transport was successfully produced. On the morning of April 17, 2023, the \"Launch Ceremony for the First Batch of Spiral Steel Tubes for the Baotou-Linhe Gas Pipeline Project\" was held at Huayou Steel Tube Company. Six heavy trucks loaded with spiral steel tubes made of Ф457×8.8mm X52MS material set off for the construction site in Inner Mongolia, marking a new breakthrough for the company in the field of steel tubes used for high-pressure hydrogen transportation.

The Baotou-Linhe gas pipeline project was invested in and constructed by Inner Mongolia West Natural Gas Company. It starts from Jiuyuan District in Baotou City, passes through Wulat Qianqi County and Wuyuan County in Bayannur City, and finally reaches Linhe District. The total length of the pipeline is 258 kilometers, of which 235 kilometers are main pipelines and 23 kilometers are branch pipelines. The designed pressure of the pipelines is 6.3 megapascals. There are 10 valve rooms and 3 stations along the entire route, and the maximum gas transmission capacity is 1.2 billion cubic meters per year. 　This project is the first long-distance high-pressure pipeline in China to have the capability for transporting hydrogen, and it was invested in and constructed by Western Natural Gas Company. It is a key natural gas infrastructure project in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, as well as a key project under the region’s 14th Five-Year Plan for the construction of oil and gas pipelines. The project will enable the effective connection of the Changqing Gas Field–Hohhot double-pipe gas transmission line in Nalin River, Wushen Banner, Ordos City, with the Changqing Gas Field–Wuhai–Linhé gas transmission line. It will meet the gas supply needs of industrial users in Bayannur City, Baotou City, and Wuhai City, as well as those in the respective banners, counties, and districts, thereby facilitating the interconnection of gas pipelines in the central and western regions of Inner Mongolia. It is reported that the construction technologies employed in this project are among the best in the country and even in the world. Once completed, the project will not only be able to transport natural gas but also supply green hydrogen to downstream industries such as steel and chemicals. This will help reduce the costs associated with hydrogen transportation and storage, improve the efficiency of new energy utilization, and contribute to Inner Mongolia’s efforts to optimize its energy structure, ensure energy security, and achieve the goals of \"carbon peak\" and \"carbon neutrality\". At the same time, as the site of a model transshipment hub for natural gas companies in western Inner Mongolia, Bayannur will be able to provide valuable references and experience for similar projects in terms of long-distance high-pressure pipeline initiatives in the future. At the same time, in order to accelerate the development of the hydrogen energy industry in Inner Mongolia and overcome the bottlenecks in hydrogen transportation, Western Natural Gas Company has planned to build pure hydrogen pipelines that start from the new energy hub in the central and northern parts of Kubuqi, crossing the Yellow River and connecting to the Baotou-Linhe gas pipeline. These pipelines will provide a transport solution for projects such as photovoltaic hydrogen production by China Three Gorges Corporation, State Power Investment Corporation, Huaneng Group, and Yili Group, as well as green hydrogen-based smelting operations carried out by Baotou Steel Group. In the future, it will play a significant role in promoting the development of clean energy supply bases in the autonomous region, as well as in the utilization of hydrogen energy and the upgrading of the industrial structure, thereby contributing to energy security through the natural gas resources of the western region. The hydrogen-infused high-pressure gas pipeline project also faces challenges; the technology involved in such pipelines is highly complex. Changes in parameters such as the concentration of the additive, flow rate, and temperature can affect the physical and chemical properties of the mixture within the pipeline, thereby having varying degrees of impact on the pipeline materials, equipment, and instruments. Therefore, strict technical standards need to be established, along with testing and verification, risk assessment, and monitoring and control at all stages such as design, construction, and operation, in order to ensure the quality, safety, and stability of the pipeline system. Hydrogen-infused high-pressure gas pipelines need to ensure the quality, safety, and stability of both natural gas and green hydrogen. Due to the different requirements and standards for natural gas and green hydrogen at the point of use, it is necessary to ensure that the quality of these two energy sources remains unchanged and uncontaminated during transportation, while also enabling their effective separation or utilization as needed. In addition, it is necessary to take into account potential safety hazards such as leaks and explosions, as well as stability issues like supply and demand fluctuations, and to implement corresponding preventive and response measures. The project adopts advanced construction technologies from both domestic and international sources. Once completed, it will not only be able to transport natural gas but also supply green hydrogen to downstream industries such as steel and chemicals. This will significantly reduce the costs associated with transporting and storing green hydrogen, while improving energy utilization efficiency. It will thus provide support for Inner Mongolia in adjusting its energy structure, ensuring energy security, and achieving the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. At the same time, Bayannur, which is developing model transfer hub projects in the western region, will also provide valuable references and experience for similar projects in terms of long-distance high-pressure pipeline projects. Materials for hydrogen transmission pipelines produced by Baotou Steel and Shougang: The \"Baotou-Linhe Gas Pipeline Project\" is the first long-distance, high-pressure, large-diameter, high-strength spiral submerged arc welded steel pipe pipeline for hydrogen transport in China, constructed by Inner Mongolia West Natural Gas Company. The pipeline is 235 kilometers long, operates at a pressure of 6.3 megapascals, has a diameter of 457 millimeters, and uses X52MS grade spiral welded pipes. During this critical period of development for hydrogen energy, Baotou Iron and Steel pays close attention to the construction of hydrogen pipelines in China, particularly those located in the vicinity of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It makes every effort to develop high-performance, high-grade pipeline pipes as well as related steel grades that are competitive in the market, thereby laying a solid foundation for Baotou Iron and Steel’s products to enter new markets in the field of pipeline construction. With the accelerated development of hydrogen pipeline construction in China, Baogang Steel Pipe Co., Ltd. has set its sights on hydrogen pipeline projects in the surrounding areas of Inner Mongolia. Starting in August 2022, the sales staff of Baogang Steel Pipe Co., Ltd. began to follow up on the Baotou-Linhe gas pipeline project, getting involved at an early stage in the R&D efforts of downstream users. A task force for the development of hydrogen transport pipelines was established to develop solutions tailored to the users’ needs, and the company won the bid in January 2023. Once the project is put into operation, hydrogen-blended transportation will be feasible; this requires very strict specifications regarding the various performance characteristics of the pipeline materials. To date, there are few examples domestically or internationally of pipeline projects of this type being constructed using high-grade, large-diameter seamless pipes. By carrying out a series of research efforts on smelting process technologies, Baotou Steel has managed to achieve ultra-low phosphorus levels. As a result, the materials used for hydrogen transmission pipelines possess properties such as ease of welding, resistance to hydrogen embrittlement, resistance to low-temperature fracture, and high toughness under hydrogen-filled conditions, representing a historic breakthrough in terms of technology. Since 2021, Huayou Steel Pipe Company, in collaboration with Shougang’s pipeline steel team, has been involved in providing support throughout the entire project process. Through research on factors such as the composition of the rolled coils, rolling processes, microstructure, and the impact of hydrogen on metal materials, they have successfully developed hot-rolled coils and spiral submerged arc welded pipes suitable for use in hydrogen-containing pipelines. For key processes such as forming and welding, numerous welding tests and adjustments to process parameters were carried out to achieve low residual stress in the steel pipes as well as high toughness in the welded areas. These pipes demonstrated excellent performance in hydrogen resistance tests, earning full recognition from Western Inner Mongolia Natural Gas Company. In 2023, orders amounting to over 11,000 tons were received, and in April of this year, the first batch of spiral submerged arc welded steel pipes designed for hydrogen-containing fluid transport was successfully produced. On the morning of April 17, 2023, the \"Launch Ceremony for the First Batch of Spiral Steel Tubes for the Baotou-Linhe Gas Pipeline Project\" was held at Huayou Steel Tube Company. Six heavy trucks loaded with spiral steel tubes made of Ф457×8.8mm X52MS material set off for the construction site in Inner Mongolia, marking a new breakthrough for the company in the field of steel tubes used for high-pressure hydrogen transportation. On March 9, 2023, the construction of China’s first high-pressure gas pipeline equipped with hydrogen blending capabilities officially began in Linhe District, Bayannur City. 　　On December 5, the first section of the Baotou-Linhe gas pipeline project undertaken by Western Natural Gas Company of Ordos State Investment Group achieved full completion of the pipeline structure; 98.8% of the project’s main pipeline work has been finished, with full operation scheduled to commence by the end of June 2024. The completion of the main track section of this phase marks the successful establishment of a connection across different cities within the alliance, laying a solid foundation for the full completion of the project. The total length of the pipeline for Section 1 is 46.67 kilometers, of which 18 kilometers are located within Baotou City and 28.67 kilometers are within Bayannur City. The route passes through 1 provincial road, 3 county roads, 2 rivers, and 4 flood discharge channels, as well as 7 gas, water supply, and communication pipelines belonging to other companies. This section is the only part of the Baotou-Linhe gas pipeline project that crosses between different municipalities. Since the construction began, Western Natural Gas Company has actively worked to address the various obstacles and challenges that arose during the project’s development. The project team, supervisors, and construction contractors have collaborated closely to continuously improve quality, safety, and progress control, striving to meet the scheduled completion date. Since the project commenced on June 15, 2023, the project team has focused on achieving national excellence standards, establishing and improving quality and safety management systems, and formulating operation guidelines for various processes such as pipeline installation, welding, anti-corrosion treatment, the handling of three types of pipelines, and landscape restoration. Construction is carried out in strict accordance with relevant standards and specifications. And through measures such as route optimization, the difficulty of construction is reduced to further ensure the quality of the project construction. In addition, this project utilizes a digital pipeline management platform along with Internet-based and terminal-based data collection methods to transmit and store in real time, continuously, information related to the personnel, equipment, welding parameters, and environmental factors involved in the weld formation process. This improves the accuracy of the quality parameters associated with the welding process and ensures that the required process standards are properly followed. Through organized intensive training and technical problem-solving, various issues encountered in the application of the new process were overcome; the first-pass welding success rate reached 98.7%, ranking among the highest in the industry, thus delivering a satisfactory result to the client.