Natural Gas Equipment Assessment for Hydrogen - Natural Gas Blends

Abstract Blending hydrogen into the existing natural gas infrastructure will require a comprehensive assessment of the system inclusive of all equipment to confirm that their integrity all-encompassing of material and performance is intact. The combustion properties of hydrogen blends can differ from traditionally distributed natural gases which may result in altered performance of end-use equipment. For example, hydrogen blending may lead to undesired impacts such as increasing tendencies for flashback, burner overheating and engine knock. Consequently, the allowable fraction of sustainable fuels in natural gas is currently strongly limited by the performance of gas combustion equipment installed in the field, such as spark-ignited engines, domestic appliances and industrial burners. Additionally, to assess the potential impact of blending hydrogen on the equipment material, a detailed list of equipment materials is required to ensure that hydrogen at different blend levels does not adversely impact their material endangering their integrity. To maximize the introduction of hydrogen into the natural gas grid, an assessment of the end-use equipment attached to the network and the natural gas compositions delivered is needed. This paper discusses the steps and challenges that should be considered in a hydrogen feasibility assessment of end-use equipment.