Hydrogen Blending
A Compilation of Operability and Emissions Performance of Residential Water Heaters Operated on Blends of Natural Gas and Hydrogen Including Consideration for Reporting Bases
Feb 2023
Publication
The impact of hydrogen added to natural gas on the performance of commercial domestic water heating devices has been discussed in several recent papers in the literature. Much of the work focuses on performance at specific hydrogen levels (by volume) up to 20–30% as a near term blend target. In the current work new data on several commercial devices have been obtained to help quantify upper limits based on flashback limits. In addition results from 39 individual devices are compiled to help generalize observations regarding performance. The emphasis of this work is on emissions performance and especially NOx emissions. It is important to consider the reporting bases of the emissions numbers to avoid any unitended bias. For water heaters the trends associated with both mass per fuel energy input and concentration-based representation are similar For carbon free fuels bases such as 12% CO2 should be avoided. In general the compiled data shows that NOx NO UHC and CO levels decrease with increasing hydrogen percentage. The % decrease in NOx and NO is greater for low NOx devices (meaning certified to NOx <10 ng/J using premixing with excess air) compared to conventional devices (“pancake burners” partial premixing). Further low NOx devices appear to be able to accept greater amounts of hydrogen above 70% hydrogen in some cases without modification while conventional water heaters appear limited to 40–50% hydrogen. Reporting emissions on a mass basis per unit fuel energy input is preferred to the typical dry concentration basis as the greater amount of water produced by hydrogen results in a perceived increase in NOx when hydrogen is used. While this effort summarizes emissions performance with added hydrogen additional work is needed on transient operation higher levels of hydrogen system durability/reliability and heating efficiency.
Gas Goes Green: Britain's Hydrogen Blending Delivery Plan
Jan 2022
Publication
Britain’s Hydrogen Blending Delivery Plan which sets out how all five of Britain’s gas grid companies will meet the Government’s target for Britain’s network of gas pipes to be ready to deliver 20% hydrogen to homes and businesses from 2023 as a replacement for natural gas.
Hydrogen–Natural Gas Blending in Distribution Systems—An Energy, Economic, and Environmental Assessment
Aug 2022
Publication
Taking into account the international policies in the field of environmental protection in the world in general and in the European Union in particular the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and primarily of carbon dioxide has become one of the most important objectives. This can be obtained through various renewable energy sources and non-polluting technologies such as the mixing of hydrogen and natural gas. Combining hydrogen with natural gas is an emerging trend in the energy industry and represents one of the most important changes in the efforts to achieve extensive decarbonisation. The importance of this article consists of carrying out a techno-economic study based on the simulation of annual consumptions regarding the construction and use of production capacities for hydrogen to be used in mixtures with natural gas in various percentages in the distribution network of an important operator in Romania. In order to obtain relevant results natural gas was treated as a mixture of real gases with a known composition as defined in the chromatographic bulletin. The survey presents a case study for the injection of 5% 10% and 20% hydrogen in the natural gas distribution system of Bucharest the largest city in Romania. In addition to conducting this techno-economic study the implications for final consumers of this technical solution in reducing greenhouse gas emissions—mainly those of carbon dioxide from combustion—are also presented.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Hydrogen–Natural Gas Blended Fuels for 400 MW Combined Cycle Power Plants (CCPPs)
Sep 2023
Publication
Various research and development activities are being conducted to use hydrogen an environmentally friendly fuel to achieve carbon neutrality. Using natural gas–hydrogen blends has advantages such as the usage of traditional combined cycle power plant (CCPP) technology and existing natural gas piping infrastructure. Therefore we conducted CCPP process modeling and economic analysis based on natural gas–hydrogen blends. For process analysis we developed a process model for a 400 MW natural gas CCPP using ASPEN HYSYS and confirmed an error within the 1% range through operation data validation. For economic analysis we comparatively reviewed the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of CCPPs using hydrogen blended up to 0.5 mole fraction. For LCOE sensitivity analysis we used fuel cost capital expenditures capacity factor and power generation as variables. LCOE is 109.15 KRW/kWh when the hydrogen fuel price is 2000 KRW/kg and the hydrogen mole fraction is increased to 0.5 a 5% increase from the 103.9 KRW/kWh of CCPPs that use only natural gas. Economic feasibility at the level of 100% natural gas CCPPs is possible by reducing capital expenditures (CAPEX) by at least 20% but net output should be increased by at least 5% (20.47 MW) when considering only performance improvement.
A Robust Scheduling Methodology for Integrated Electric-Gas System Considering Dynamics of Natural Gas Pipeline and Blending Hydrogen
Mar 2022
Publication
As smart grid develops and renewables advance challenges caused by uncertainties of renewables have been seriously threatening the energy system’s safe operation. Nowadays the integrated electric-gas system (IEGS) plays a significant role in promoting the flexibility of modern grid owing to its great characteristic in accommodating renewable energy and coping with fluctuation and uncertainty of the system. And hydrogen as an emerging and clean energy carrier can further enhance the energy coupling of the IEGS and promote carbon neutralization with the development of power-to-hydrogen (P2H) technology and technology of blending hydrogen in the natural gas system. Dealing with the uncertainty of renewables a robust schedule optimization model for the integrated electric and gas systems with blending hydrogen (IEGSH) considering the dynamics of gas is proposed and the iterative solving method based on column-and-constraint generation (C&CG) algorithm is implemented to solve the problem. Case studies on the IEGSH consisting of IEEE 39-bus power system and 27-node natural gas system validate the effectiveness of the dynamic energy flow model in depicting the transient process of gas transmission. The effectiveness of the proposed robust day-ahead scheduling model in dealing with the intra-day uncertainty of wind power is also verified. Additionally the carbon emission reduction resulting from the blending of hydrogen is evaluated.
Research Progress and Prospects on Hydrogen Damage in Welds of Hydrogen-Blended Natural Gas Pipelines
Nov 2023
Publication
Hydrogen energy represents a crucial pathway towards achieving carbon neutrality and is a pivotal facet of future strategic emerging industries. The safe and efficient transportation of hydrogen is a key link in the entire chain development of the hydrogen energy industry’s “production storage and transportation”. Mixing hydrogen into natural gas pipelines for transportation is the potential best way to achieve large-scale long-distance safe and efficient hydrogen transportation. Welds are identified as the vulnerable points in natural gas pipelines and compatibility between hydrogen-doped natural gas and existing pipeline welds is a critical technical challenge that affects the global-scale transportation of hydrogen energy. Therefore this article systematically discusses the construction and weld characteristics of hydrogen-doped natural gas pipelines the research status of hydrogen damage mechanism and mechanical property strengthening methods of hydrogen-doped natural gas pipeline welds and points out the future development direction of hydrogen damage mechanism research in hydrogen-doped natural gas pipeline welds. The research results show that: 1 Currently there is a need for comprehensive research on the degradation of mechanical properties in welds made from typical pipe materials on a global scale. It is imperative to systematically elucidate the mechanism of mechanical property degradation due to conventional and hydrogeninduced damage in welds of high-pressure hydrogen-doped natural gas pipelines worldwide. 2 The deterioration of mechanical properties in welds of hydrogen-doped natural gas pipelines is influenced by various components including hydrogen carbon dioxide and nitrogen. It is necessary to reveal the mechanism of mechanical property deterioration of pipeline welds under the joint participation of multiple damage mechanisms under multi-component gas conditions. 3 Establishing a fundamental database of mechanical properties for typical pipeline steel materials under hydrogen-doped natural gas conditions globally is imperative to form a method for strengthening the mechanical properties of typical high-pressure hydrogen-doped natural gas pipeline welds. 4 It is essential to promptly develop relevant standards for hydrogen blending transportation welding technology as well as weld evaluation testing and repair procedures for natural gas pipelines.
Economic Modelling of Mixing Hydrogen with Natural Gas
Jan 2024
Publication
As global efforts intensify to transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources the blending of hydrogen with natural gas emerges as a promising strategy to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy security. This study employs a systematic approach to assess the economic viability of hydrogen blending considering factors such as gas costs and heat values. Various hydrogen blending scenarios are analyzed to determine the optimal blend ratios taking into account both technical feasibility and economic considerations. The study discusses potential economic benefits challenges and regulatory implications associated with the widespread adoption of hydrogen–natural gas mixtures. Furthermore the study explores the impact of this integration on existing natural gas infrastructure exploring the potential for enhanced energy storage and delivery. The findings of this research contribute valuable insights to policymakers industry stakeholders and researchers engaged in the ongoing energy transition by providing a nuanced understanding of the economic dimensions of hydrogen blending within the natural gas sector.
Evaluation of Hydrogen Blend Stability in Low-Pressure Gas Distribution
Apr 2023
Publication
Natural gas distribution companies are developing ambitious plans to decarbonize the services that they provide in an affordable manner and are accelerating plans for the strategic integration of renewable natural gas and the blending of green hydrogen produced by electrolysis powered with renewable electricity being developed from large new commitments by states such as New York and Massachusetts. The demonstration and deployment of hydrogen blending have been proposed broadly at 20% of hydrogen by volume. The safe distribution of hydrogen blends in existing networks requires hydrogen blends to exhibit similar behavior as current supplies which are also mixtures of several hydrocarbons and inert gases. There has been limited research on the properties of blended hydrogen in low-pressure natural gas distribution systems. Current natural gas mixtures are known to be sufficiently stable in terms of a lack of chemical reaction between constituents and to remain homogeneous through compression and distribution. Homogeneous mixtures are required both to ensure safe operation of customer-owned equipment and for safety operations such as leak detection. To evaluate the stability of mixtures of hydrogen and natural gas National Grid experimentally tested a simulated distribution natural gas pipeline with blends containing hydrogen at up to 50% by volume. The pipeline was outfitted with ports to extract samples from the top and bottom of the pipe at intervals of 20 feet. Samples were analyzed for composition and the effectiveness of odorant was also evaluated. The new results conclusively demonstrate that hydrogen gas mixtures do not significantly separate or react under typical distribution pipeline conditions and gas velocity profiles. In addition the odorant retained its integrity in the blended gas during the experiments and demonstrated that it remains an effective method of leak detection.
Enabling Hydrogen Blending From Industrial Clusters
Nov 2022
Publication
This study has been commissioned by the gas transporters as part of the Gas Goes Green (GGG)2 work programme to develop and report a ‘gas transporter view’ on how to facilitate hydrogen blending from industrial clusters which are likely to form the initial source for hydrogen blending in the gas network. This view has been developed through engagement carried out with industrial clusters and other stakeholders as well as drawing on learnings from a previous hydrogen blending study.3 The key takeaways of this study are that: l Enabling hydrogen blending from industrial clusters can be done in a pragmatic way with limited need for change to existing gas frameworks. l Where frameworks do need to change the changes are incremental rather than involving overhaul of existing frameworks and are highly workable. l While there remain uncertainties as to the nature of blending at each cluster (e.g. the volume and profile of hydrogen injections) in general the changes required to commercial and regulatory frameworks are the same implying that they are low regret. Below we summarise gas transporters’ preferred approach to facilitating hydrogen blending from industrial clusters including both the policy decisions needed and the changes required to commercial and regulatory frameworks. We note that this work has not involved a legal review and that one will be required as part of the process of implementing the framework changes described below.
Study Progress on the Pipeline Transportation Safety of Hydrogen-blended Natural Gas
Oct 2023
Publication
The core of carbon neutrality is the energy structure adjustment and economic structure transformation. Hydrogen energy as a kind of clean energy with great potential has provided important support for the implementation of the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals of China. How to achieve the large-range safe and reliable transportation of hydrogen energy with good economic benefits remains the key to limiting the development of hydrogen energy. Using the existing natural gas pipeline network can save many infrastructure construction costs to transport hydrogen-blended natural gas. However due to great differences in the physical and chemical properties of hydrogen and natural gas the transportation of hydrogen-blended natural gas will bring safety risks to the pipeline network operation to a certain extent. In this paper the influences of pipeline transportation of hydrogen-blended natural gas on existing pipelines and parts along the pipelines are analyzed from two aspects of pipe compatibility and hydrogen blending ratio and the safety of pipeline transportation of hydrogen-blended natural gas is summarized from two aspects of leakage and accumulation as well as combustion and explosion. In addition the integrity management of hydrogen-blended natural gas pipelines and the existing relevant standards and specifications are reviewed. This paper points out the shortcomings of current hydrogen-blended natural gas pipeline transportation and gives some relevant suggestions. Hopefully this work can provide a useful reference for developing a hydrogen-blended natural gas pipeline transportation system.
Gas Turbine Combustion Technologies for Hydrogen Blends
Sep 2023
Publication
The article reviews gas turbine combustion technologies focusing on their current ability to operate with hydrogen enriched natural gas up to 100% H2. The aim is to provide a picture of the most promising fuel-flexible and clean combustion technologies the object of current research and development. The use of hydrogen in the gas turbine power generation sector is initially motivated highlighting both its decarbonisation and electric grid stability objectives; moreover the state-of-the-art of hydrogen-blend gas turbines and their 2024 and 2030 targets are reported in terms of some key performance indicators. Then the changes in combustion characteristics due to the hydrogen enrichment of natural gas blends are briefly described from their enhanced reactivity to their pollutant emissions. Finally gas turbine combustion strategies both already commercially available (mostly based on aerodynamic flame stabilisation self-ignition and staging) or still under development (like the micro-mixing and the exhaust gas recirculation concepts) are described.
Enriching Natural Gas with Hydrogen: Implications for Burner Operation
Feb 2024
Publication
This paper presents the results of increasing the hydrogen concentration in natural gas distributed within the territory of the Slovak Republic. The range of hydrogen concentrations in the mathematical model is considered to be from 0 to 100 vol.% for the resulting combustion products temperature and heating value and for the scientific assessment of the environmental and economic implications. From a technical perspective it is feasible to consider enriching natural gas with hydrogen up to a level of 20% within the Slovak Republic. CO2 emissions are estimated to be reduced by 3.76 tons for every 1 TJ of energy at an operational cost of EUR 10000 at current hydrogen prices.
Assessing the Implications of Hydrogen Blending on the European Energy System towards 2050
Dec 2023
Publication
With the aim of reducing carbon emissions and seeking independence from Russian gas in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine the use of hydrogen in the European Union is expected to rise in the future. In this regard hydrogen transport via pipeline will become increasingly crucial either through the utilization of existing natural gas infrastructure or the construction of new dedicated hydrogen pipelines. This study investigates the effects of hydrogen blending in existing pipelines on the European energy system by the year 2050 by introducing hydrogen blending sensitivities to the Global Energy System Model (GENeSYS-MOD). Results indicate that hydrogen demand in Europe is inelastic and limited by its high costs and specific use cases with hydrogen production increasing by 0.17% for 100%-blending allowed compared to no blending allowed. The availability of hydrogen blending has been found to impact regional hydrogen production and trade with countries that can utilize existing natural gas pipelines such as Norway experiencing an increase in hydrogen and synthetic gas exports from 44.0 TWh up to 105.9 TWh in 2050 as the proportion of blending increases. Although the influence of blending on the overall production and consumption of hydrogen in Europe is minimal the impacts on the location of production and dependence on imports must be thoroughly evaluated in future planning efforts.
Flashback Propensity due to Hydrogen Blending in Natural Gas: Sensitivity to Operating and Geometrical Parameters
Jan 2024
Publication
Hydrogen has emerged as a promising option for promoting decarbonization in various sectors by serving as a replacement for natural gas while retaining the combustion-based conversion system. However its higher reactivity compared to natural gas introduces a significant risk of flashback. This study investigates the impact of operating and geometry parameters on flashback phenomena in multi-slit burners fed with hydrogenmethane-air mixtures. For this purpose transient numerical simulations which take into account conjugate heat transfer between the fluid and the solid walls are coupled with stochastic sensitivity analysis based on Generalized Polynomial Chaos. This allows deriving comprehensive maps of flashback velocities and burner temperatures within the parameter space of hydrogen content equivalence ratio and slit width using a limited number of numerical simulations. Moreover we assess the influence of different parameters and their interactions on flashback propensity. The ranges we investigate encompass highly H2 -enriched lean mixtures ranging from 80% to 100% H2 by volume with equivalence ratios ranging from 0.5 to 1.0. We also consider slit widths that are typically encountered in burners for end-user devices ranging from 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm. The study highlights the dominant role of preferential diffusion in affecting flashback physics and propensity as parameters vary including significant enrichment close to the burner plate due to the Soret effect. These findings hold promise for driving the design and optimization of perforated burners enabling their safe and efficient operation in practical end-user applications.
Modelling the Impacts of Hydrogen–Methane Blend Fuels on a Stationary Power Generation Engine
Mar 2023
Publication
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas use utilities are investigating the potential of adding hydrogen to their distribution grids. This will reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from grid-connected engines used for stationary power generation and it may also impact their power output and efficiency. Promisingly hydrogen and natural gas mixtures have shown encouraging results regarding engine power output pollutant emissions and thermal efficiency in well-controlled on-road vehicle applications. This work investigates the effects of adding hydrogen to the natural gas fuel for a lean-burn spark-ignited four-stroke 8.9 liter eight-cylinder naturally aspirated engine used in a commercial stationary power generation application via an engine model developed in the GT-SUITETM modelling environment. The model was validated for fuel consumption air flow and exhaust temperature at two operating modes. The focus of the work was to assess the sensitivity of the engine’s power output brake thermal efficiency and pollutant emissions to blends of methane with 0–30% (by volume) hydrogen. Without adjusting for the change in fuel energy the engine power output dropped by approximately 23% when methane was mixed with 30% by volume hydrogen. It was found that increasing the fueling rate to maintain a constant equivalence ratio prevented this drop in power and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by almost 4.5%. In addition optimizing the spark timing could partially offset the increases in in-cylinder burned and unburned gas temperatures and in-cylinder pressures that resulted from the faster combustion rates when hydrogen was added to the natural gas. Understanding the effect of fuel change in existing systems can provide insight on utilizing hydrogen and natural gas mixtures as the primary fuel without the need for major changes in the engine.
Dynamic Quality Tracking of Natural Gas and Hydrogen Mixture in a Portion of Natural Gas Grid
Aug 2015
Publication
Direct injection of alternative fuels (biomethane hydrogen) in the natural gas grid appears to be a promising solution to reach environmental objectives of CO2 emission reduction in the current energy scenario. This approach is justified by the large amount of biogas producible which can be upgraded to biomethane; while another proposed solution to increase renewable energy sources exploitation lies in producing hydrogen from excess wind energy followed by injection in the natural gas grid. Nevertheless compliance with composition limits and quality constraints in the resulting natural gas mixture has to be analysed in both stationary and dynamic operations tracking the gas quality downstream the injection point of the alternative fuels. A model was developed to simulate unsteady operation of a portion of gas grid dealing with realistic industrial and residential consumptions concentrated in offtake points. Two case studies were investigated focusing on the comparison between different amounts of hydrogen injection in the pure natural gas flow yielding composition flow rate and pressure profiles. The analysis shows how imposed quality thresholds can be respected although the hydrogen fraction within the natural gas mixture is highly sensitive to the profile and size of the loads connected to the gas pipeline.
Numerical Simulation of Hydrogen–Coal Blending Combustion in a 660 MW Tangential Boiler
Feb 2024
Publication
With the adjustment of energy structure the utilization of hydrogen energy has been widely attended. China’s carbon neutrality targets make it urgent to change traditional coal-fired power generation. The paper investigates the combustion of pulverized coal blended with hydrogen to reduce carbon emissions. In terms of calorific value the pulverized coal combustion with hydrogen at 1% 5% and 10% blending ratios is investigated. The results show that there is a significant reduction in CO2 concentration after hydrogen blending. The CO2 concentration (mole fraction) decreased from 15.6% to 13.6% for the 10% hydrogen blending condition compared to the non-hydrogen blending condition. The rapid combustion of hydrogen produces large amounts of heat in a short period which helps the ignition of pulverized coal. However as the proportion of hydrogen blending increases the production of large amounts of H2O gives an overall lower temperature. On the other hand the temperature distribution is more uniform. The concentrations of O2 and CO in the upper part of the furnace increased. The current air distribution pattern cannot satisfy the adequate combustion of the fuel after hydrogen blending.
Hydrogen–Natural Gas Mix—A Viable Perspective for Environment and Society
Aug 2023
Publication
The increase in demand and thus the need to lower its price has kept C-based fuels as the main source. In this context the use of oil and gas has led to increased climate change resulting in greenhouse gases. The high percentage of emissions over 40% is due to the production of electricity heat or/and energy transport. This is the main reason for global warming and the extreme and increasingly common climate change occurrences with all of nature being affected. Due to this reason in more and more countries there is an increased interest in renewable energies from sustainable sources with a particular emphasis on decarbonisation. One of the energies analysed for decarbonisation that will play a role in future energy systems is hydrogen. The development of hydrogen–natural gas mixtures is a major challenge in the field of energy and fuel technology. This article aims to highlight the major challenges associated with researching hydrogen–natural gas blends. Meeting this challenge requires a comprehensive research and development effort including exploring appropriate blending techniques optimising performance addressing infrastructure requirements and considering regulatory considerations. Overcoming this challenge will enable the full potential of hydrogen–natural gas blends to be realised as a clean and sustainable energy source. This will contribute to the global transition to a greener and more sustainable future. Several international European and Romanian studies projects and legislative problems are being analysed. The mix between H2 and natural gas decreases fugitive emissions. In contrast using hydrogen increases the risk of fire more than using natural gas because hydrogen is a light gas that easily escapes and ignites at almost any concentration in the air.
Blending Hydrogen in Existing Natural Gas Pipelines: Integrity Consequences from a Fitness for Service Perspective
Jun 2023
Publication
Blending hydrogen in existing natural gas pipelines compromises steel integrity because it increases fatigue crack growth promotes subcritical cracking and decreases fracture toughness. In this regard several laboratories reported that the fracture toughness measured in a hydrogen containing gaseous atmosphere KIH can be 50% or less than KIC the fracture toughness measured in air. From a pipeline integrity perspective fracture mechanics predicts that injecting hydrogen in a natural gas pipeline decreases the failure pressure and the size of the critical flaw at a given pressure level. For a pipeline with a given flaw size as shown in this work the effect of hydrogen embrittlement (HE) in the predicted failure pressure is largest when failure occurs by brittle fracture. The HE effect on failure pressure diminishes with a decreasing crack size or increasing fracture toughness. The safety margin after a successful hydrostatic test is reduced and therefore the time between hydrotests should be decreased. In this work all those effects were quantified using a crack assessment methodology (level 2 API 579-ASME FFS) considering literature values for KIH and KIC reported for an API 5L X52 pipeline steel. To characterize different scenarios various crack sizes were assumed including a small crack with a size close to the detection limit of current in-line inspection techniques and a larger crack that represents the largest crack size that could survive a hydrotest to 100% of the steel specified minimum yield stress. The implications of a smaller failure pressure and smaller critical crack size on pipeline integrity are discussed in this paper.
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