Safety analysis of blended hydrogen pipelines using dynamic object-oriented bayesian network

Abstract

Energy demand is increasing rapidly while traditional fossil fuel resources are depleting. Hydrogen is considered a promising alternate fuel. The safety of hydrogen transportation is a key issue that warrants greater attention, primarily to determine how existing pipelines of natural gas transportation can be used for hydrogen transportation. This study has proposed a safety analysis model using the physics and mechanistic approach of hydrogen-associated degradation. A dynamic Object-Oriented Bayesian network (OOBN) model is proposed to study the mechanisms and physics of failure with hydrogen-associated degradation. The proposed model is explained using an industrial case study. Results show low-strength steel is less susceptible to hydrogen-associated degradation than high-strength steel pipes. Moisture, internal stress, and loss of metal ductility are key parameters that require detailed attention. The results of dynamic OOBN also indicate that hydrogen release probability follows a non-linear behavior dependent on the type of metal and operating conditions. The study identifies that controlling the corrosion rate can help ensure the safety of blended hydrogen pipelines.