NTT Anode Energy Corporation announced a joint research and development project to study safety measures for the mass transportation of hydrogen through existing pipeline infrastructure. The study, being performed in collaboration with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and Toyota Tsusho is expected to contribute to the realization of a pipeline transportation model for hydrogen that could be implemented globally.
Although hydrogen has emerged as an important part of the clean energy mix needed to ensure a sustainable future, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency, the large-scale, stable transportation of hydrogen through new pipeline infrastructure faces issues including land acquisition construction costs and building time.
Utilizing existing pipeline infrastructure can solve these issues, and this new study represents the next step in this model’s proof-of-concept process.
The study will examine a double-piping system in which a hydrogen pipeline is placed in an existing pipe (the “sheath pipe”) buried underground. Factors to be measured and contributed to the formulation of technical standards include:
On-site investigation of hydrogen leakage detection
Verification of detection of signs of abnormality
Establishment of a control sequence to ensure safety
Performance evaluation of various hydrogen sensors in a real-world environment
Safety measures will be investigated under the assumption of unsteady conditions including rupture accidents and natural disasters during pipeline operation. In addition to examining the safety measures necessary for such use of existing pipelines, the study will verify the profitability of such projects, including cost analysis of transportation; energy input; and economic efficiency, as compared to other hydrogen transportation means.
Based on the knowledge and data gained through this project, NTT Anode Energy and its collaborators will promote and establish technical studies on safety measures for practical use. Ultimately, the project will also support the future supply of hydrogen to urban areas (e.g., public and commercial facilities, data centers and communications buildings; fuel cell vehicles; hydrogen stations, etc.), supply through pipelines utilizing communication pipelines (e.g., cable tunnels) and will contribute to the development of smart cities and the establishment of hydrogen supply means through pipelines in regions with a view to a society that consumes a large amount of hydrogen through the development of CO2-free hydrogen.
Primary Areas of Research by Collaborator
Posted on 26 July 2022 in Hydrogen, Infrastructure, Japan, Market Background | Permalink | Comments (3)
Plans especially within Europe for utilising the NG pipeline network, initially at mixtures of up to 20% and later for conversion, are now fairly advanced and being tested.
https://fuelcellsworks.com/news/gasunie-starts-construction-of-national-hydrogen-network-in-the-netherlands/
As they note: 'Approximately 85% of the hydrogen network will consist of recycled NG pipelines' and that 'They will become available because there is less and less need to transport NG in the years to come'
Which is why 'Engineering with Rosie's' interviewee was talking nonsense by seeking to rule it out on the grounds that you can only transport around 30% of the energy value of an equivalent NG pipeline - everything from the needed extra insulation of buildings to the installation of rooftop solar means that this value is actually a pretty good fit for the needed delivery quantities.
I am not clear if the Dutch system is envisaging mixing in the hydrogen as is planned in Germany and the UK, this looks like a purely dedicated network.
Here is a bit about one way of separating out the hydrogen in a mixture at point of use : https://www.energy-innovation-austria.at/article/hylypure-2/?lang=en
And here 'pipe within a pipe' delivery for hydrogen:
https://fuelcellsworks.com/news/h2-clippers-newly-patented-pipe-within-a-pipe-technology-revolutionizes-last-mile-delivery-of-pure-hydrogen/
To be clear for those who imagine that I am simply a hydrogen advocate, where they are possible I prefer things like reduction in energy usage, electrification and so on.
But they aren't always possible, and it is in my view nuts to try to stretch them to all cases, when hydrogen can do the job of filling in the gaps just fine.
Posted by: Davemart | 26 July 2022 at 03:14 AM
At ambient pressure this scheme might work. If the pipeline pressure is exceedingly higher than ambient pressure, the H2 losses will be too high to make such a venture economical.
Posted by: yoatmon | 26 July 2022 at 03:25 AM
Do try looking things up instead of making wild claims.
https://hydropole.ch/en/hydrogen/storage/
' Hydrogen can be transported in pipelines similar to natural gas. There are networks for hydrogen already operating today, a 1500 km network in Europe and a 720 km network in the USA. The oldest hydrogen pipe network is in the Ruhr area in Germany and has operated for more than 50 years. The tubes with a typical diameter of 25-30 cm are built using conventional pipe steel and operate at a pressure of 10 to 20 bar. The volumetric energy density of hydrogen gas is 36% of the volumetric energy density of natural gas at the same pressure. In order to transport the same amount of energy the hydrogen flux has to be 2.8 times larger than the flux of natural gas. However, the viscosity of hydrogen (8.92·10-6 Pa s) is significantly smaller than that of natural gas (11.2·10-6 Pa s). The minimum power P required to pump a gas through a pipe is given by
where l is the length of the pipe, v the velocity and h the dynamic viscosity of the gas. The transmission power per energy unit is therefore 2.2 times larger for hydrogen as compared to natural gas. The total energy loss during the transportation of hydrogen is about 4% of the energy content. Because of the great length, and therefore the great volume of piping systems, a slight change in the operating pressure of a pipeline system results in a large change of the amount of hydrogen gas contained within the piping network. Therefore, the pipeline can be used to handle fluctuations in supply and demand, avoiding the cost of onsite storage.'
ie for more than 50 years hydrogen has been routinely transported by pipelines at many times atmospheric pressure.
The energy costs at 4% are significant but way less than prohibitive, and comparable to electricity transmission losses.
Posted by: Davemart | 26 July 2022 at 07:09 AM
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