Plastic Pipes Conference Association # 2023 Lake Buena Vista
Roland Valk, René Hermkens, Sjoerd Jansma
The use of hydrogen gas as an energy carrier is seen as a key component of the energy transition. This creates new challenges, including in relation to the transport and distribution of this gas. The low-pressure (natural) gas distribution grid in the Netherlands currently consists of 64% PVC and is presumed to be suitable for transporting hydrogen in the (near) future [1]. To gather evidence to support this assumption, both the maximum angle of deflection before leakage for PVC joints and the permeability of PVC pipes and PVC joints were determined using hydrogen gas. The loss of hydrogen due to leakage and permeation is important from a safety point of view as well as from an environmental point of view, as hydrogen is an indirect greenhouse gas. It also gives an insight into the economic losses.
In this project, the mechanical behavior of joints made of unplasticized PVC (PVC-U) and impact-modified PVC (PVC-Hi) was tested by determining the maximum angle of deflection before leakage. These tests were carried out on old joints (up to 56 years) excavated from the natural gas distribution grid. The joints were tested either without or with additional ageing. The ageing consisted of exposing the inside of the pipes to hydrogen for a period of 1000 hours at 60 °C as described in earlier research [2]. Both tests showed that the maximum angle of deflection, even after ageing, fulfils the requirements of the appropriate EN-ISO 13844 [3] and NEN 7231 [4] standards (both cover only PVC-Hi).
The permeation rates for three PVC-U pipes and three PVC-Hi pipes were also determined [5], [6]. The permeation coefficient was calculated after correction for the pipe dimensions and applied hydrogen pressure. The permeation coefficient was used to determine the permeation rate for different scenarios. For example, a PVC-U Dn250, SDR 41 pipe of 12 meters in length subjected to a hydrogen pressure of 100 mbar will result in a hydrogen permeation rate of less than 200 ml/day. The permeation rate of four PVC joints (2x PVC-U and 2x PVC-Hi), including a pipe length of approximately 0.6 m, was determined using hydrogen at 200 mbar. The permeation rate ranged from 6.5 ml/day to 7.5 ml/day.
For reference, natural gas distribution leaks above 5 l/h are not permitted [7]. As the reported permeation rates were far below 5 l/h, no safety problems due to hydrogen permeation are expected.
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