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ENERGIX-Stort program energi

Reliable Metering for the Hydrogen Supply Chain to enable a Sustainable Hydrogen Economy

Alternative title: Pålitelig måling av hydrogentransport for å muliggjøre en bærekraftig hydrogensektor

Awarded: NOK 14.0 mill.

For custody transfer of hydrogen it is a prerequisite that the quantity and quality are measured accurately and can be traced to international standards. Extensive R&D is required to transfer measurement technology from the oil and gas industry and to develop new metering systems that have sufficient accuracy. The aim of Hyme is to contribute to this by developing knowledge, increase competence and establish methodology to enable reliable, traceable, and accurate metering of hydrogen-based energy carriers. Hydrogen can be transported in various ways, e.g. as pressurized gas, blended with natural gas, as liquid or as amonia. To ensure accurate measurements it is required to know how the properties of the hydrogen fluid change with temperature and pressure and how different metering technologies respond to the hydrogen fluid. The project is investigating which restrictions currently available metering technologies have for certain process conditions. Further, the project will study methods to improve the performance of such meters. Measurement stations for hydrogen consist of a combination of meters that measure quantity and sampling/analyses equipment to measure fluid quality. HyMe is investigating the process conditions along various supply chains and the performance requirements the metering stations must meet. The propagation of uncertainties through various supply chains is calculated. Based on this, methodology for design and uncertainty estimation of complete supply chains and measurement stations is developed. For the meters and metering stations to be approved for use by industry and authorities, the technologies need to be calibrated and verified in a controlled and traceable manner. The status for establishment of practical, reliable and traceable calibration facilities for commercial meters is investigated. HyMe also builds knowledge on how losses and quality degradation along the supply chain can be detected and quantified. This is important for cost reduction and safety.

The HyMe project will develop knowledge, increase competence and establish methodology to enable reliable, traceable, and accurate metering of hydrogen-based energy carriers in targeted hydrogen supply chains (HSCs). Such accurate and traceable measurements are essential to ensure fair custody transfer and trade, and from a safety point of view. Based on a wide range of commercial meters for e.g. oil and gas, the project will investigate how current key metering technologies respond to different hydrogen-based energy carriers, and which gaps there are. Methods to improve meter performance will be developed. Further, in a metering station, e.g. a custody transfer metering station, several meters and sampling systems are typically combined to get all the necessary details about the fluid being transferred. The project will investigate the measurement needs (with respect to energy, quantity, quality) and typical process conditions (temperature, pressure, fluid state, rate) etc. for the targeted HSC, and develop methodologies and recommendations for design and analysis of measuring stations. Establishing recommendations, guidelines, and best practice for metering station design require understanding of meter and fluid behavior, and how the fluid behavior influences the meter performance. Further, to design HSCs, fundamental understanding of how metering uncertainties propagate through supply chains is essential. Knowledge is also required for detection and quantification of losses and quality degration along the supply chain, as loss and quality are important aspects for cost reduction and safety in transport, storage and distribution of hydrogen-based energy carriers. For the meters and metering stations to be approved for use by industry and authorities, the technologies need to be calibrated and verified in a controlled and traceable manner. Challenges and possibilities for practical, reliable and traceable calibration of commercial meters will be investigated.

Funding scheme:

ENERGIX-Stort program energi