Study on the Influence of Hydrogen Blended Transportation on the Safety of Existing X70 Steel in Gas Distribution Pipeline Network

Abstract

Abstract Coal to gas is one of the natural gas sources utilized in Beijing, with a hydrogen blend concentration range from 1% to 3% and reaching up to 5% in specific cases. In order to evaluate the safety of transporting hydrogen blended natural gas with X70 pipeline steel in distribution pipelines, this study first conducted the slow strain rate tensile tests under a total pressure of 4 MPa in hydrogen environment. The results show that X70 steel exhibits highly sensitive to a hydrogen blending ratio of 5%. Subsequently, four types of hydrogen compatibility tests were conducted in the above sensitive hydrogen partial pressure include the impact toughness test, fracture toughness test, fatigue crack growth test, and fastening disk pressure test. The findings demonstrated that hydrogen blended natural gas has virtual no effect on the impact and fracture toughness, with only 10% reduction in fatigue crack growth threshold. Finally, based on fatigue life analysis by fracture mechanics evaluation, it can be concluded that the existing natural gas pipe of X70 steel is capable to operate safely over 40 years under a total pressure of 4 MPa with a hydrogen blend concentration of 5%.