‘One failure is too many’: Sask. researchers study effects of hydrogen on steel used in pipelines

WATCH: Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are learning how existing natural gas pipeline could transport hydrogen in the future.

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are learning how existing natural gas pipelines could transport hydrogen in the future.

Hydrogen has been gaining popularity worldwide as a potential clean, sustainable energy source.

But in order to meet high energy demands like utility infrastructure, large volumes of hydrogen would need to be transported by pipelines, either existing natural gas or dedicated hydrogen pipelines.

“There have been proposals to actually transport hydrogen in natural gas pipelines,” said Tonye Jack, PhD candidate and researcher in the department of mechanical engineering at the University of Saskatchewan.

One of the challenges with hydrogen is that it has a low density by volume, meaning it would take much more hydrogen transported under high pressure to be economically viable.

Jack says another challenge is that under pressure, hydrogen atoms can diffuse into the steel which makes it brittle and prone to cracking called hydrogen embrittlement.

“So we need pipelines to use that’s strong enough to withstand these pressures,” he said. “Also resistant to hydrogen embrittlement.”

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Using the BMIT beamline at the Canadian Light Source, Jack and his team were able to get 3D images of the cracking behaviour in different types of steel, and how the cracks change when stress is applied.

“If we want dedicated pipelines where you have just hydrogen, these pipelines need to be strong, they need to be tough, and that is a problem,” said Jack. “Because with the characteristics of high strength steel, you have a higher susceptibility to imprisonment just by rule of thumb. So we need to find that balance to actually get those dedicated pipelines.”

Jack says in order to meet sustainability goals of zero emissions by 2050, the use of fuels like hydrogen are necessary.

But he says more research is needed to ensure the technology is safe.

“One failure is too many,” Jack said. “So we need more testing.”

The Saskatchewan government maintains oversight over all provincially regulated pipeline infrastructure, including for hydrogen transport.

“A number of facilities in Saskatchewan currently produce hydrogen through the process of steam methane reformation - converting natural gas into hydrogen – for on-site use in fertilizer production and petroleum refining,” reads a statement from the Government of Saskatchewan.

“The Government of Saskatchewan is supportive of private sector-led hydrogen projects and continues to monitor opportunities in the industry, however there are no known new hydrogen projects at an advanced stage of development in the province.”