Operational optimization of hydrogen-blended natural gas pipeline networks based on the differential evolution algorithm

Blending hydrogen into natural gas pipelines is an effective and economical method for long-distance, large-scale hydrogen transportation. Current research on hydrogen-blended natural gas pipelines primarily focuses on hydraulic and thermal characteristics, while operational efficiency optimization has received less attention. Consequently, this study conducted the operational optimization of hydrogen-blended natural gas pipeline networks using the differential evolution algorithm. The optimization involved single-objective optimization aimed at minimizing compressor energy consumption, as well as multi-objective optimization that addresses both compressor energy consumption and throughput. For the single-objective optimization, the optimal operating scheme for the compressor can reduce energy consumption by around 40% across various hydrogen blending ratios. In the case of multi-objective optimization, maintaining the transportation task coefficients within the range of 0.55–0.6 ensures that the compressor operates within a safe and efficient region. Notably, when the transportation task coefficient is around 0.55, an inflection point emerges in the distribution of Pareto-optimal solutions. This point signifies an optimized design where both compressor power and throughput reach favorable conditions, marking a crucial operational sweet spot for efficient performance. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing hydrogen-blended natural gas pipelines.