Assessment of hydrogen embrittlement in pipelines due to hydrogen/natural gas blending

为了与加拿大2050年的净零排放保持一致，天然气公用事业公司正在探索提供更清洁能源的方法。例如，Enbridge正在进行一项520万美元的项目，在其天然气分销网络中试点混合2%的可再生氢气与天然气。燃烧时，氢不会释放二氧化碳，因此是更清洁的能源。这个低碳掺氢项目是北美首个此类项目，是绿色天然气供应的重要一步。然而，更高的氢含量需要与天然气混合，以显著减少温室气体排放。在家庭和工业应用的天然气网络中实施氢混合物可能会影响现有和新的管道网络。氢可导致钢质输气管道的环境辅助失效，其主要原因是氢与残余应力和外加应力的共同作用。这种现象被称为氢脆，并可能导致灾难性的故障。该项目的目的是评估氢气与天然气混合对管道钢的影响，并确定新的和现有的天然气分配网络中的最大混合限值，以确保天然气管道的安全运行。拟议的项目是与加拿大国家研究理事会和Enbridge天然气公司合作进行的。氢是一种多功能和独特的能源载体，可实现经济和环境效益，并在清洁能源系统方面发挥重要作用。此外，加拿大各地天然气/氢气混合物分配管道网络的安装、运营和维护预计将产生数千名新的技术工人和工程工作。因此，为大流行后的经济复苏铺平了道路。

In alignment with Canada's 2050 net-zero emissions, natural gas utilities companies are exploring ways to provide cleaner energy. For example, Enbridge is undertaking a $5.2M project to pilot the blending of 2% renewable hydrogen with natural gas in their natural gas distribution network. When burned, hydrogen does not emit carbon dioxide, hence, cleaner energy. This low carbon hydrogen-blending project is the first of its kind in North America and is an important step in greening the gas supply. However, higher hydrogen content needs to be blended with natural gas for a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Implementation of hydrogen blends into the natural gas network for homes and industrial applications can impact existing and new pipeline networks. Hydrogen can induce an environmentally assisted failure of steel gas pipelines that results mostly due to the combined action of hydrogen and residual and applied stress. This phenomenon is known as hydrogen embrittlement and may lead to catastrophic failures. The objective of this project is to assess the effect of blending hydrogen with natural gas on pipe steels and determine the maximum blending limits in new and existing gas distribution networks for the safe operation of gas pipelines. The proposed project is in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada and Enbridge Gas Inc. Hydrogen is a versatile and unique energy carrier that enables economic and environmental benefits and can play a significant role in cleaning of energy systems. Furthermore, the installation, operation, and maintenance of the natural gas/hydrogen blend distribution pipeline networks across Canada is expected to generate thousands of new skilled workers and engineering jobs. Hence, sets the path to economic recovery post pandemic.