Background
Hydrogen will be a key resource as the world seeks carbon-neutral energy sources, and utilizing hydrogen blended with natural gas (HyBlend) for power generation and heating will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By using the existing pipeline infrastructure and conventional natural gas power generation machinery, greenhouse gas emissions can be readily reduced in the very near term. However, pipeline operators and power generating companies are concerned with the potential degradation effects of blended natural gas on existing pipeline infrastructure and power-generating machinery. The Department of Energy (DOE) is currently funding a team of six national labs to perform basic research on the effects of blended natural gas on existing pipelines and pipeline materials to address industry concerns. This team is required to secure industry and academic support through in-kind and cash contributions, and this HyBlend program provides SwRI with an opportunity to better prepare for the Hydrogen Economy.
Approach
Through in-kind project support, SwRI will join the national lab team and more than 20 industry and academic organizations to support the HyBlend program. SwRI will provide technical expertise and unique testing and characterization capabilities to evaluate pipeline material compatibility with blended natural gas. Very few studies have explored material performance and effects of blended natural gas on the mechanical properties of pipeline materials in relevant environments.
Accomplishments
SwRI has started fatigue crack growth rate testing and fracture toughness in high pressure hydrogen gas environments to evaluate the mechanical degradation from hydrogen embrittlement. These tests were designed to better understand the effects of loading frequency in the near-threshold regime for the fatigue crack growth rate test and to understand the effects of rising displacement rate on the fracture toughness behavior of these materials. These data are instrumental in performing lifting and integrity analyses to predict material performance in application.