Advanced additive manufacturing applied to high tech control valves
Description
Hydrogen fuel can be used as an alternative to fossil fuel or natural gas which has great potential to reduce the carbon footprint by neutralizing carbon emissions. In this context, the idea of blending hydrogen into existing natural gas pipelines provides an economic alternative for the transport of hydrogen (H2). However, there are several challenges that must be considered when transporting hydrogen in the existing gas network. Hydrogen has different physical and chemical properties from natural gas, including smaller size, and lighter weight, making it more likely to permeate through pipeline materials and seals, leading to degradation. Hydrogen can dissolve in the different materials used in gas networks and cause hydrogen embrittlement (HE), compromising network structural integrity by subcritical cracking, decreasing ductility and fracture toughness, and increasing the crack growth rate.
This work will use different techniques to introduce hydrogen and then study its effects on the different materials and prepare a report which suggests suitable materials in the existing gas network. This hydrogen is induced in the material during electrochemical reactions or a high-pressure gaseous hydrogen environment. There are several methods by which hydrogen can be entered into the material such as dissociation of high-pressure hydrogen, cathodic charging, electroplating, welding etc. Therefore, in this current study, two modes of research and technology will be required to address the problem. Firstly, we will reserach compatibility issues such as hydrogen embrittlement and hydrogen-induced cracking in different types of materials used in gas networks. Secondly, gas transmission and gas distribution network materials will be tested in their compatibility for the transportation of blended natural gas and hydrogen mixtures (NG/H2) on the existing gas network, initially focusing on the materials associated with gas distribution connections.