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Numerical Estimation of the Structural Integrity in an Existing Pipeline Network for the Transportation of Hydrogen Mixture in the Future

Abstract

Hydrogen is gaining attention due to its potential to address key challenges in the sectors of energy, transportation and industry, since it is a much cleaner energy source when compared to fossil fuels. The transportation of hydrogen from the point of its production to the point of use can be performed by road, rail, sea, pipeline networks or a combination of the abovementioned. Being in the preliminary stage of hydrogen use, the utilization of the already existing natural gas pipeline networks for hydrogen mixtures transportation has been suggested as an efficient means of expanding hydrogen infrastructure. Yet, exploring this alternative, major challenges such as the pre-existence of cracks in the pipelines and the effect of hydrogen embrittlement on the material of the pipelines exist. In this paper, the macroscopic numerical modeling of pipeline segments with the use of the finite element method is performed. In more details, the structural integrity of intact and damaged pipeline segments, of different geometry and mechanical properties, was estimated. The effect of the pipeline geometry and material has been investigated in terms of stress contours with and without the influence of hydrogen. The results suggest that the structural integrity of the pipeline segments is more compromised by pre-existing longitudinal cracks, which might lead to an increase in the maximum value of equivalent Von Mises stress by up to four times, depending on their length-tothickness ratio. This effect becomes more pronounced with the existence of hydrogen in the pipeline network.

Countries: Greece
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/content/journal6762
2025-01-24
2025-02-23
/content/journal6762
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