Hydrogen pipeline transport
Encyclopedia
Pipe (material)
A pipe is a tubular section or hollow cylinder, usually but not necessarily of circular cross-section, used mainly to convey substances which can flow — liquids and gases , slurries, powders, masses of small solids...
as part of the hydrogen infrastructure
Hydrogen infrastructure
A hydrogen infrastructure is the infrastructure of pipes and stations for distribution and sale of hydrogen fuel.-Hydrogen pipeline transport:Hydrogen pipeline transport is a transportation of hydrogen through a pipe as part of the hydrogen infrastructure...
.
Economics
Hydrogen pipeline transport is used to transport hydrogen from the point of production or delivery to the point of demand. Although the technology for hydrogen pipeline transport is proven, and the transport costs are similar to those of CNG
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
, most hydrogen is produced in the place of demand, with an industrial production facility every 50 to 100 mi (80.5 to 160.9 km)
Hydrogen has problems with both hydrogen embrittlement
Hydrogen embrittlement
Hydrogen embrittlement is the process by which various metals, most importantly high-strength steel, become brittle and fracture following exposure to hydrogen...
and corrosion. Hydrogen has an active electron, and therefore behaves somewhat like a Halogen
Halogen
The halogens or halogen elements are a series of nonmetal elements from Group 17 IUPAC Style of the periodic table, comprising fluorine , chlorine , bromine , iodine , and astatine...
. For this reason, Hydrogen pipes have to resist corrosion, and are normally specified to be of expensive stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
. The problem is compounded because hydrogen can easily migrate into the crystal structure of most metals.
History
- 1938 - Rhine-RuhrRhine-RuhrThe Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region is the largest metropolitan region in Germany with about 10,100,000 inhabitants. It is of polycentric nature and the only megacity in Germany. It covers an area of 7,110 square kilometers and lies entirely within the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia...
The first 240 km hydrogen pipes that are constructed of regular pipe steel, compressed hydrogenCompressed hydrogenCompressed hydrogen is the gaseous state of the element hydrogen kept under pressure. Compressed hydrogen in hydrogen tanks at 350 bar and 700 bar is used for mobile hydrogen storage in hydrogen vehicles...
pressure 10-20 bar, diameter 25–30 cm. Still in operation. - 1973 – 30 km pipeline in IsberguesIsberguesIsbergues is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Isbergues is situated about northwest of Béthune and west of Lille at the junction of the D186, D187 and the D91 roads and by the banks of the Canal d’Aire...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. - 1985 - Extension of the pipeline from Isbergues to ZeebruggeZeebruggeZeebrugge is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.-Location:...
- 1997 - Connection of the pipeline to RotterdamRotterdamRotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
- 1997 - 2000: Development of two hydrogen networks, one near Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, TexasCorpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and one between FreeportFreeport, TexasFreeport is a city in Brazoria County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area and is situated in Southeast Texas. As of the 2000 U.S...
and Texas City. - 2009 - 150 mile extension of the pipeline from Plaquemine to Chalmette.
Infrastructure
- 2004 - USA - 900 miles (1450 km) of low pressure hydrogen pipelines
- 2004 - Europe - 930 miles (1500 km) of low pressure hydrogen pipelines.
Research
Fiber-Reinforced PolymerFibre-reinforced plastic
Fibre-reinforced plastic is a composite material made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fibres. The fibres are usually fibreglass, carbon, or aramid, while the polymer is usually an epoxy, vinylester or polyester thermosetting plastic...
Pipelines (or FRP pipeline) and Reinforced thermoplastic pipe
Reinforced thermoplastic pipe
RTP is a generic term referring to a reelable high strength synthetic fibre reinforced thermoplastic pipe, initially developed in the early 1990s by Wavin Repox, Akzo Nobel and by Tubes d'Aquitaine from France, who developed the first pipes reinforced with synthetic fibre to replace medium...
s are researched
See also
- Guided rotor compressorGuided rotor compressorThe guided rotor compressor is a positive displacement rotary gas compressor. The compression volume is defined by the trochoidally rotating rotor mounted on an eccentric drive shaft with a typical 80 to 85% adiabatic efficiency.-History:...
- HCNGHCNGHCNG is a mixture of compressed natural gas and 4–9 percent hydrogen by energy. It may be used as a fuel gas for internal combustion engines and home appliances...
- Hydrogen turboexpander-generatorHydrogen turboexpander-generatorA hydrogen turboexpander-generator or generator loaded expander for hydrogen gas is an axial flow turbine or radial expander for energy recovery through which a high pressure hydrogen gas is expanded to produce work that is used to drive a electrical generator...
- Hydrogen pipingHydrogen pipingHydrogen piping, in industrial settings, is a system of pipes used to move hydrogen. Due to issues with hydrogen embrittlement, and corrosion, materials for hydrogen pipes must be carefully selected...
- Hydrogen economyHydrogen economyThe hydrogen economy is a proposed system of delivering energy using hydrogen. The term hydrogen economy was coined by John Bockris during a talk he gave in 1970 at General Motors Technical Center....
- Pipeline transportPipeline transportPipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
- Plastic pressure pipe systems
- Timeline of hydrogen technologiesTimeline of hydrogen technologiesTimeline of hydrogen technologies — A timeline of the history of hydrogen technology.-1600s:* 1625 - First description of hydrogen by Johann Baptista van Helmont...