Thermoplastic liners for Transmission Feasibility

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen transport and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
SGN

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 February 2024

31 May 2024

ENA months

£36,533

Energy

South East

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, SGN

The feasibility study will look to address a series of details regarding the use of thermoplastic liners that will ultimately provide confidence in the solution. The projects" focus will be to examine the technical background, previous applications of the technology in other industries and risks specific to operations in the gas industry and will be completed with the delivery of the following:- A literature review that covers:· Project background· Historical use of PE 100 pipes for gas service· Important test requirements for PE 100 gas pipes· Experience of liners for high pressure gas· Risk of buckling collapse· Venting of gas· End terminations and fittings· Liner design basis· Suitability and compatibility of liner pipe material for hydrogen use· Gas constituents and partial pressures· Liner time and temperature dependent materials properties· Permeability coefficients for gaseous species through PE 100 pipe.- A technical design assessment· Liner collapse condition and equation(s)Description of the collapse condition and selection of appropriate equation.· Assessment of annular volumetric space between liner and steel host· Diffusion of gaseous species through the liner· Calculation for time and temperature dependent volumetric liner collapseThe quantity of gas transported by permeation through the wall of high-pressure hydrogen liners under various operating conditions.· Technical assessment of current suitability of PE 100 liners for hydrogen use· Conclusions and further development work required. The scope of work includes reviewing the project background, including historical use of the technology, risks involved and the suitability of the solution for transporting hydrogen. From this literature review, a gas diffusion assessment will be undertaken, and recommendations will be provided regarding further development work that needs to be completed. The objective is to develop a study on the suitability of a PE 100 liner for repurposing pipeline to use with hydrogen blends. Die Draw has been able to provide confidence that their PE lining would be impermeable to hydrogen, proving suitable for pipes carrying hydrogen blends.

The aim of the project is to complete a literature review and a technical design assessment to ascertain if existing pipe lining technology could be used in SGN"s LTS network to safely transport hydrogen blends up to 100%. Internal lining technology has been underexploited in the past within onshore gas transportation. This is because permeation through the lining materials into the annular space can cause the liner to collapse. This would be more prevalent due to the properties of hydrogen. Several venting solutions have been attempted but are not suitable when transporting hydrogen. The future strategy of this project to the GB gas network will be to develop lining technology as a viable solution to extend the life of existing assets where the current material is not suitable to transport hydrogen.

02/10/24