Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NGNG_NIA_346 | |
| Title | ATEX Equipment & SR/25 Modification Assessment | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 20%; Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen transport and distribution) 80%; |
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| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given Northern Gas Network (NGN) North East |
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| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 July 2022 | |
| End Date | 30 April 2023 | |
| Duration | ENA months | |
| Total Grant Value | £380,000 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Energy | |
| Region | North East | |
| Programme | ||
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , Northern Gas Network (NGN) North East (99.992%) |
| Other Investigator | Project Contact , Wales and West Utilities (0.001%) Project Contact , National Grid Gas Transmission (0.001%) Project Contact , Cadent Central (0.001%) Project Contact , Cadent Eastern (0.001%) Project Contact , Cadent North London (0.001%) Project Contact , Cadent North West (0.001%) Project Contact , Cadent West Midlands (0.001%) Project Contact , SGN - Scotland (0.001%) |
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| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , Wales and West Utilities (0.000%) Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks (0.000%) Project Contact , Cadent Gas (0.000%) Project Contact , SGN (0.000%) |
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| Web Site | https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NGNG_NIA_346 |
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| Objectives | This will include a full survey of electrical and instrumentation equipment in accordance with relevant standard and identification of any electrical equipment of classification IIB (not inclusive of IIB+H2) and below within current hazardous areas, this is to be benchmarked against existing audit records for each site. An assessment of hazardous area classifications for existing installations under assumed conversion to 100% hydrogen conditions is to be undertaken to determine impact on current specification equipment. The proposed range of sites includes: 2 x HP Network Offtakes (NGGT Asset inclusive) 6 x HP PRIs 2 x Above ground exposed pressure reduction 2 x Above ground non-exposed pressure reduction within kiosk / building 1 x Below ground 5 x District Governor 2 x GRP Kiosk 2 x Brick / stone building 1 x Below ground module 1 x HP Storage Site This range of sites covers both transmission and distribution infrastructure across varies constructions and configurations. Quality Assurance Plan The supplier Integrated Management System (IMS) has achieved the following accreditations for Design Engineering and Consultancy within the Energy Sector: • I.S. EN ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management Systems) • I.S. EN ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management Systems) • I.S. EN ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems) • Achilles UVDB & Verify B2 Objective 1: ATEX equipment suitability Due to the difference in characteristics and group classification between natural gas and hydrogen any conversion of existing equipment will require assessment that assets are suited to use within a hydrogen atmosphere (II C), as this may not currently be the case (II A / B). The BS EN 60079 suite of standards provides guidance on equipment ratings intended for use within hazardous areas and explosive atmospheres. Due to equipment classification it is evident that assets designed for use within a natural gas atmosphere may not be suitable for continued operation post-hydrogen conversion. The extent of this issue has not yet been quantified, this deliverable of the project will undertake an assessment of suitability for current electrical and instrumentation equipment for conversion to hydrogen under current hazardous area classification. This will include a full survey of electrical and instrumentation equipment in accordance with relevant standard and identification of any electrical equipment of classification IIB (not inclusive of IIB+H2) and below within current hazardous areas, this is to be benchmarked against existing audit records for each site. Objective 2: SR25 Modification Impact The ATEX 153 Directive (1999/92/EC), implemented into UK law as the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), has placed obligations to classify installations into hazardous and non-hazardous areas. Gas networks have traditionally not classified below 7 bar installations, but this has been required for new installations from 30th June 2003, meaning all natural gas installations are required by law to undergo DSEAR risk assessment. Whilst a hazardous area classification drawing is not a specific requirement of DSEAR, this will often be the most convenient method of presenting the data. IGEM standard IGEM-SR-25ed2 complements BS EN60079-10-1 by providing detailed requirements for the hazardous area classification of permanent and temporary Natural Gas Installations. A hazardous area is an area in which explosive gas/air mixtures are continuously present frequently or for long periods of time, or are likely to occur during normal operation, or are unlikely to occur but do so infrequently for short durations of time. such as to require special precautions for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of electrical & instrumentation equipment. IGEM have undertaken a comprehensive review of IGEM-SR-25ed2 to determine whether the existing standard or guidance provide methodologies suitable for area classification of systems using either H₂ or H₂/NG blends. Conclusion of this assessment illustrated that for a substantial range of scenarios application of IGEM/SR/25 without modification would result in significant underestimation of hazardous zones for release of either H₂ or H₂/NG blends. The methodologies of the approach remain valid, however further evaluation is required through additional generation of H₂ specific data in order to develop a H₂ supplement to the standard. On completion of this supplement the Employer requires an assessment of existing installations with assumed conversion to 100% hydrogen in order to determine impact on current specification equipment. A full review of SR/25 hazardous area classification will be undertaken for each site using the supplement as published. A full review of existing SR/25 drawings under current specification will be required to ensure accuracy of existing assessment, and validity of H₂ review. Financial benefit Undertaking this project will allow for the progression of feasibility into decarbonisation of gas infrastructure and domestic heating. Decarbonisation of natural gas infrastructure will represent a significant financial benefit against the cost of full electrification for domestic heating. Undertake hazardous area assessment on a range of sample sites to determine variation in HA zoning following conversion to 100% hydrogen. Undertake surveys on a range of sample sites to determine suitability of existing electrical and instrumentation equipment and connections following conversion to 100% hydrogen Produce technical guidance on extend of potential works to ensure compliance to DSEAR and ATEX regulations. | |
| Abstract | Survey and review of existing transmission and distribution infrastructure to assess suitability of electrical connections for use with 100% hydrogen. Current hazardous area classifications and design of electrical connections | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 14/10/22 | |
