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ENERGIX-Stort program energi

Safe Pipelines for Hydrogen Transport

Alternative title: Trygge rørledninger for transport av hydrogengass

Awarded: NOK 20.0 mill.

Hydrogen, the most abundant chemical substance in the universe, may, as an energy carrier hold the key to the inevitable and needed transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Together with Norway's important role as a major energy provider in Europe comes the obligation to be a main player in this transition. A safe and efficient use of Norway's 8800 km subsea pipeline network for transporting hydrogen to the market will be a strong driving force for this transition to happen. However, atomic hydrogen can be absorbed in metallic materials and cause material degradation in the form of hydrogen embrittlement. Therefore, HyLINE will address the pipeline material challenges related to transporting clean hydrogen gas in the existing subsea pipeline infrastructure for natural gas transport as well as new pipeline infrastructure. The research partners SINTEF, NTNU and Kyushu University (Japan) have cooperated with national and international industry partners that represents the whole value chain of the hydrogen economy: Tenaris Dalmine, Equinor, Gassco, Total E&P, Air Liquide, TecnipFMC, and NEL. The HyLINE project has built an important knowledge basis for the evaluation of reuse of existing subsea natural gas pipelines for hydrogen gas transport. Three PhDs and one Post doc have been educated, and three of the candidates has been employed by Norwegian institutes and companies, hence strengthening the competence of hydrogen embrittlement in the Norwegian work force. More specifically this is knowledge related to 1) Hydrogen uptake and diffusion, 2) How micro- and nano-structures in the steel will influence hydrogen uptake, diffusion and mechanical properties, 3) How hydrogen influences the fracture and fatigue resistance of pipeline steels, 4) Development of predictive numerical models for hydrogen influenced fracture assessment.

- The HyLINE project has built a knowledge basis for the evaluation of reuse of existing subsea natural gas pipelines for hydrogen gas transport. - The project has strengthen the competence on the topic of hydrogen embrittlement and pipeline integrity under hydrogen gas conditions at SINTEF and NTNU and among the industry partners. - Three PhDs and one Post doc have been educated, and three of the candidates has been employed by Norwegian institutes and companies, hence strengthening the competence of hydrogen embrittlement in the Norwegian work force. - The results will be part of the knowledge basis for the decision regarding reusing existing subsea natural gas infrastructure for hydrogen transport from Norway to Germany. - The results will add to the international result and knowledge basis for the development of standards and guidelines for pipeline transport of hydrogen in existing natural gas infrastructure. - The results will be further utilized in the new KSP project HyLINE II focusing on the integrity of the welded joints of the subsea pipeline in pressurized hydrogen gas.

For Norway to be a substantial supplier of pure hydrogen gas to the European market, the gas must be transported through high pressure pipelines, both onshore and offshore. Hydrogen atoms (H) are known to migrate into metals and cause detrimental mechanical effects. Cathodic protection against corrosion is a well-known source of hydrogen, but exposing the full internal surface of a pipeline to high pressure hydrogen is a situation not addressed by current national standard for pipeline systems. Thus, hydrogen transport represents a new situation for the regulatory authorities, operators, owners and users of the existing pipelines and producers of new pipelines. All these stakeholders are contributing to HyLINE. The primary objective of HyLINE is to build fundamental knowledge and competence to ensure safe and efficient use of existing and new pipeline infrastructure. The main topics to be addressed are: - How can H get into the material? - How fast H gets into the material. - How much H can the material take? - What H does to the material when it has entered. - How to predict effects of H throughout the lifetime of a pipe. - How to mitigate these effects. Gaining further knowledge on these topics contain the secondary objectives of HyLINE, as well as educating 5-10 MScs and 4 PhDs. Materials and weldments will be selected based on their industrial relevance and susceptibility to the effects of H. Extensive experimental activities with strong coupling to model development of all the main topics, aim for results, methods and numerical tools that will extend the competence of all users in the hydrogen pipeline chain represented in HyLINE. The expected outcomes of the HyLINE will serve as a scientific foundation for future development of standards and practices for pipeline transport of high pressure hydrogen. Improved understanding of the effect of H on metals will also be of benefit to other parts of the process industry and the maritime sector in general.

Publications from Cristin

Funding scheme:

ENERGIX-Stort program energi