| New ASME Code for Hydrogen Pipelines
Louis
Hayden, PE
A Presentation Summary from the Hydrogen Pipeline
Working Group Workshop The workshop was held in Augusta, Georgia on August 31,
2005 and sponsored by the US Department of Energy and hosted by Mr. Mark Paster.
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the presentation (136Kb PDF)
A key factor to note, in the development
of a hydrogen based infrastructure, is the transport of the hydrogen from point
of generation to the point of use. Like natural gas today, pipeline transportation
will be the least expensive and most safe method for hydrogen distribution.
The
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) through a task group of volunteer
experts studied the need for a new design/safety code for hydrogen piping and
pipelines. This study resulted in a recommendation to the ASME Board on Pressure
Technology Codes and Standards for a new code. This effort is now underway to
develop the new code, designated: ASME B31.12 Code for Hydrogen Piping and
Pipelines.
ASME B31.12 will include requirements specific to hydrogen
service for power, process, transportation, distribution, commercial and residential
applications. The code will include new code requirements, references to relevant
code sections and incorporation of parts of: - ASME B31.1 (Power Piping)
- ASME
B31.3 (Process Piping) and
- ASME B31.8 (Gas Transmission and Distribution
Piping Systems).
The new B31.12 Code is anticipated to blend prescriptive
and performance based elements and will be divided into four parts:
-
A common section containing requirements and data referenced by the relevant code
sections below,
- Part A: Industrial piping systems,
-
Part B: Pipeline and distribution systems and
- Part C: Commercial
and residential systems.
Currently, the schedule for this project
indicates a draft available for public review in late 2006.
As with
any new endeavor, there are challenges and unresolved issues. Many of the challenges
facing the development of hydrogen infrastructure involve materials of construction.
Many engineering experts have stated that piping systems will have to operate
at pressures up to 15,000psi and that pipelines may have to operate at pressures
up to 3,000psi. We do know that hydrogen has a negative effect on the mechanical
properties of many metallic piping and pipeline materials in common use today
at lower pressures. Research has begun to determine how high pressure/high purity
hydrogen will affect these materials.
One type of pipe that holds much
promise is a composite pipe constructed with a fiber reinforced plastic outer
shell and an inner liner of plastic or hydrogen-immune, metallic material. This
type of construction is particularly appealing for hydrogen pipeline construction.
Where
do we go from here?
First, the current and planned research on metallic
piping and pipeline materials needs to move along as fast as possible (some of
the testing takes 5,000 hours or more per sample). Pipe welding needs to be reviewed
for long-term, sustained load cracking. Research is needed on composite pipe construction,
pipeline performance in hydrogen environments and joining methods. Testing is
needed on commonly used plastic pipe materials for compatibility with high purity
hydrogen environments. Finally, the public should be educated on hydrogen issues
with a joint task force from US DOE and ASME.
Louis Hayden is the chair
of ASME B31.12.
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