|
Delivery
 Pipelines appear to be necessary for the economic delivery of hydrogen on a large scale. However, due to hydrogen's low energy density, high pressure hydrogen transmission is anticipated. As a result, issues of material performance in high pressure hydrogen, such as hydrogen embrittlement, and fabrication techniques to minimize the cost of new pipeline construction must be addressed as potential barriers to sustained hydrogen use.
The Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program at ORNL leverages the facility's long history of leadership in materials sciences in order to investigate solutions for pipeline delivery of hydrogen. ORNL research experience in characterization, failure analysis, and materials design in high temperature and high pressure applications is valuable in the development of new materials that are resistant to hydrogen embrittlement, development of new welding materials and welding processes, and investigation into applications of fiber-reinforced polymer pipeline materials.
For more information about the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Delivery subprogram, see the Multi-Year Research, Development and Demonstration Plan.
— Click here to go to the password-protected Hydrogen Delivery Pipeline Working Group site! —
Projects
Contact
Steve Pawel, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 865-574-5138, pawelsj@ornl.gov
Materials Solutions for Hydrogen Delivery in Steel Pipeline - G. Muralidharan
 Pipeline transmission is presently the most economical method for the delivery of large quantities of hydrogen. As transmission pressures are increased, steel pipelines that could be used for the transport of hydrogen at low pressures may be prone to hydrogen embrittlement. Recently, significant advances have been made in the understanding of this process. The increasing integration of computational techniques with experimental methods has resulted in the development of "designer" materials better suited for any given application. The work on this project uses an integrated approach to develop and test new materials solutions so that pipeline delivery of hydrogen is enabled at high pressures.
Project Scope:
-
Identification of steel compositions and microstructures (associated welding filler wires) and processes that would be suitable for new pipeline infrastructure for transport of hydrogen at requisite high pressures
-
Development of barrier thin film coatings that would minimize hydrogen permeation in the pipelines
-
Understanding cost factors related to the construction of new pipelines and modification of existing pipelines, and subsequently, to identify the path to cost reduction
ORNL has installed laboratory equipment for in-situ mechanical testing of materials under high hydrogen pressures. The correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties will be used to assist with the prediction of hydrogen sensitivity and the fabrication requirements for the proposed, next-generation alloys.
Project Documents:
Project Contact:
Govindarajan Muralidharan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 865-574-4281, muralidhargn@ornl.gov
Back to top
Hydrogen Permeability and Integrity of Steel Welds and HAZ- Zhili Feng
 Pipeline systems are likely to be the most efficient mechanism for transporting large quantities of hydrogen from production site to point-of-use. To be cost-effective, high pressure hydrogen pipelines must be constructed of economically viable materials such as steel. Steel pipelines, however, are subject to hydrogen embrittlement which reduces the structural integrity of the pipeline. In addition, the welding process introduces unfavorable microstructures and high residual stresses that increase the susceptibility of welds to hydrogen embrittlement.
Project Goals:
-
To gain a basic understanding of the welding effects on the material property degradation of candidate materials exposed to high pressure gaseous hydrogen
-
To develop the technical basis and guidelines for management of stress and microstructure in the weld region for structural integrity and safety
-
To develop welding/joining technology that can be used to safely and economically construct new pipelines and/or retrofit existing pipelines for hydrogen delivery
To adequately address the effects of microstructure and property inhomogeneity in welds, a special miniature, self-loading testing apparatus was designed and fabricated for in-situ measurement of the mechanical property degradation of weld metal under high-pressure gaseous hydrogen environment.
Project Fact Sheet:
Project Contact:
Back to top
Composite Hydrogen Pipelines - Barton Smith
 Gas pipelines are presently the most feasible option for transmitting large quantities of hydrogen over long distances; however, existing hydrogen pipeline technology cannot achieve current cost and performance goals. Steel pipelines are subject to hydrogen embrittlement, and welding technology for steel pipelines is costly and can exacerbate embrittlement. Hydrogen leakage and diffusion pose significant challenges for designing pipeline equipment, materials, seals, valves, and fittings. In addition, hydrogen delivery infrastructure will rely on sensors and robust designs and engineering. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) pipeline technology has the potential to overcome these barriers.
The initial phase of this project involves investigating FRP spoolable pipelines under development for the oil and gas industry. The challenges of this project are as follows:
-
To evaluate the materials necessary to successfully adapt the FRP spoolable pipeline to high-pressure hydrogen use
-
To determine the necessary modifications to existing codes and standards
-
To validate the safe and reliable implementation of the FRP pipeline
-
To assess the availability of sensor technology that ensures safe and reliable use
FRP pipe can be manufactured with fiber optics, copper signal wires, power cables, or capillary tubes installed directly into the structural wall of the piping; this allows the pipe to operate as a smart structure. This project will examine advanced composites for constructing non-metallic hydrogen pipelines and new polymers for use as hydrogen gas carriers.
Project Fact Sheet:
Related Publications and Presentations:
-
Barton Smith, Barbara Frame, Cliff Eberle, Larry Anovitz, Tim Armstrong, Chris Makselon (Fiberspar LinePipe, LLC) and Thad Adams (SRNL), “Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Pipelines for Hydrogen Delivery,” presented at the National Hydrogen Association Annual Conference, March 21, 2007, San Antonio, Texas.
Project Contact:
Back to top
|
