Hydrogen is gaining momentum as the centerpiece of clean energy initiatives in many countries and may hold the key to the inevitable and needed transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. It is estimated by various sources that the global economic impact would be about $1T (one trillion dollars) by the year 2035. Hydrogen can be extracted from natural gas and other fossil fuels commonly known as "blue" hydrogen, or from renewable energy sources or from water by electrolysis, termed "green" hydrogen.
The known deleterious effects of H2 on high strength pipeline steel (embrittlement, decrease in ductility, acceleration of fatigue crack growth, etc.) makes it a potential challenge for economic and safe transportation of hydrogen gas from the production source to the end user.
This study presents the test protocol designed to investigate if internal coatings can help mitigate the deleterious interaction between pipeline steel and hydrogen. Test results of six coating systems vs bare (uncoated) metal are presented and discussed based on their impact on mechanical properties of X-80 pipeline steel (yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, % elongation, and % reduction of area).
Governments and energy companies are increasingly looking at hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels, and it is considered that without hydrogen the world cannot aim to be a net zero carbon economy by 20501. Consequently, hydrogen is currently enjoying unprecedented political and business momentum, with the number of policies and projects around the world expanding rapidly. Combustion of hydrogen does not produce greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, particulates, sulfur oxides or ground level ozone2. Thus, hydrogen offers ways to decarbonize a range of sectors, as well as help improve air quality and strengthen energy security.
Due to its low density, hydrogen is hard to store on a large scale or transport via road or ship, but it flows about three times faster than natural gas in pipelines, making them a good option for large-scale transport, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That means oil-and-gas companies can use their existing pipeline infrastructure or add pipes to it, to transport the fuel.