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Impact of Hydrogen and Natural Gas Substitute on the Gas Networks

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A5: Hydrogen Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2021) | Viewed by 14056

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Marco Dell'Isola

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, FR, Italy
Interests: thermodynamics; energy systems; renewable energy systems; energy use in buildings; individual metering; smart building; smart metering; energy efficiency; building ventilation; energy and environmental sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Spazzafumo

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Via G. Di Biasio, 43, 03043 Cassino (FR), Italy
Interests: mainly focused on the sustainability of the energy system and hydrogen as an energy carrier. In particular, his research activity deals with: (i) hydrogen energy systems; (ii) integration of fuel cells in energy systems; (iii) power to fuels; (iv) advanced thermodynamic cycles; (v) life cycle assessment.
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogen is playing an increasingly important role in energy transition and decarbonisation policy. In fact, hydrogen has an essential role in the mix of clean energy needed to ensure a sustainable future. The significant drop in the production cost of both hydrogen and natural gas substitute in conjunction with renewable sources has an important political and commercial impact. A key feature of hydrogen is its high flexibility as an energy vector and intrinsic availability. In fact, hydrogen can be generated starting from any renewable energy source and directly mixed and delivered with natural gas in the existing transmission and distribution networks; furthermore, it can be stored in exhausted gas fields during overproduction periods to respond to peaks in case of energy deficit.

As a result, all the technologies linked to the hydrogen revolution are becoming increasingly relevant. However, some issues related to the widespread production and injection of hydrogen in gas grids must be investigated to reduce existing risks and costs. Therefore, many efforts in research and pre-normative studies still need to be adopted that aim at ensuring the necessary safety and reliability of the entire chain value (i.e., production, transport, storage, distribution and end use).

The proposed Special Issue refers to the use of H2NG (hydrogen in natural gas) and syngas mixtures, and in particular, to:

power to gas and hydrogen production technologies (including renewable energy sources, membranes, electrolysers)
synergies between hydrogen and renewable energy
impact of hydrogen and NG substitute on gas transmission and distribution networks
blending hydrogen into natural gas for heating and cooking purposes
impact on measurement instruments and unaccounted-for gas
technical impacts on residential and commercial gas appliances
case studies

Prof. Dr. Marco Dell'Isola
Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Spazzafumo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

hydrogen from renewable energy sources
natural gas substitute
gas networks
power to gas
energy storage
gas appliances

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 4732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reliability of Equilibrium Gasification Models for Selected Biomass Types and Compositions: An Overview

by Linda Moretti, Fausto Arpino, Gino Cortellessa, Simona Di Fraia, Maria Di Palma and Laura Vanoli

Energies 2022, 15(1), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15010061 - 22 Dec 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2921

Abstract

In this paper, the authors present an overview of biomass gasification modeling approaches with the aim of evaluating their effectiveness as a modeling tool for the design and optimization of polygeneration plants based on biomass gasification. In fact, the necessity to build plant operating maps for efficiency optimization requires a significant number of simulations, and non-stoichiometry equilibrium models may allow fast computations thanks to their relative simplicity. The main objective consists of the assessment of thermodynamic equilibrium models performance as a function of biomass type and composition to better understand in which conditions of practical interest such models can be applied with acceptable reliability. To this aim, the authors developed two equilibrium models using both a commercial software (referred as Aspen model) and a simulation tool implemented in a non-commercial script (referred as analytical model). To assess their advantages and disadvantages, the two models were applied to the gasification simulation of different biomasses, employing experimental data available from the scientific literature. The obtained results highlighted strengths and limitations of using equilibrium models as a function of biomass type and composition. For example, they showed that the analytical model predicted syngas composition with better accuracy for biomass types characterized by a low ash content, whereas the Aspen model appeared to fairly predict the syngas composition at different conditions of ER; however, its accuracy might be reduced if the properties of the treated biomass changed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Hydrogen and Natural Gas Substitute on the Gas Networks)

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17 pages, 1513 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Hydrogen Injection on Natural Gas Measurement

by Marco Dell’Isola, Giorgio Ficco, Linda Moretti, Jacek Jaworski, Paweł Kułaga and Ewa Kukulska–Zając

Energies 2021, 14(24), 8461; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14248461 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3182

Abstract

Hydrogen is increasingly receiving a primary role as an energy vector in ensuring the achievement of the European decarbonization goals by 2050. In fact, Hydrogen could be produced also by electrolysis of water using renewable sources, such as photovoltaic and wind power, being able to perform the energy storage function, as well as through injection into natural gas infrastructures. However, hydrogen injection directly impacts thermodynamic properties of the gas itself, such as density, calorific value, Wobbe index, sound speed, etc. Consequently, this practice leads to changes in metrological behavior, especially in terms of volume and gas quality measurements. In this paper, the authors present an overview on the impact of hydrogen injection in natural gas measurements. In particular, the changes in thermodynamic properties of the gas mixtures with different H₂ contents have been evaluated and the effects on the accuracy of volume conversion at standard conditions have been investigated both on the theoretical point of view and experimentally. To this end, the authors present and discuss the effect of H₂ injection in gas networks on static ultrasonic domestic gas meters, both from a theoretical and an experimental point of view. Experimental tests demonstrated that ultrasonic gas meters are not significantly affected by H₂ injection up to about 10%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Hydrogen and Natural Gas Substitute on the Gas Networks)

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21 pages, 3730 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heat Recovery from a PtSNG Plant Coupled with Wind Energy

by Daniele Candelaresi, Linda Moretti, Alessandra Perna and Giuseppe Spazzafumo

Energies 2021, 14(22), 7660; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14227660 - 16 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1950

Abstract

Power to substitute natural gas (PtSNG) is a promising technology to store intermittent renewable electricity as synthetic fuel. Power surplus on the electric grid is converted to hydrogen via water electrolysis and then to SNG via CO₂ methanation. The SNG produced can be directly injected into the natural gas infrastructure for long-term and large-scale energy storage. Because of the fluctuating behaviour of the input energy source, the overall annual plant efficiency and SNG production are affected by the plant operation time and the standby strategy chosen. The re-use of internal (waste) heat for satisfying the energy requirements during critical moments can be crucial to achieving high annual efficiencies. In this study, the heat recovery from a PtSNG plant coupled with wind energy, based on proton exchange membrane electrolysis, adiabatic fixed bed methanation and membrane technology for SNG upgrading, is investigated. The proposed thermal recovery strategy involves the waste heat available from the methanation unit during the operation hours being accumulated by means of a two-tanks diathermic oil circuit. The stored heat is used to compensate for the heat losses of methanation reactors, during the hot-standby state. Two options to maintain the reactors at operating temperature have been assessed. The first requires that the diathermic oil transfers heat to a hydrogen stream, which is used to flush the reactors in order to guarantee the hot-standby conditions. The second option entails that the stored heat being recovered for electricity production through an Organic Rankine Cycle. The electricity produced is used to compensate the reactors heat losses by using electrical trace heating during the hot-standby hours, as well as to supply energy to ancillary equipment. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the technical feasibility of the proposed heat recovery strategies and how they impact on the annual plant performances. The results showed that the annual efficiencies on an LHV basis were found to be 44.0% and 44.3% for the thermal storage and electrical storage configurations, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Hydrogen and Natural Gas Substitute on the Gas Networks)

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14 pages, 1601 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Domestic Gas Meter Durability in Hydrogen and Natural Gas Mixtures

by Jacek Jaworski, Paweł Kułaga, Giorgio Ficco and Marco Dell’Isola

Energies 2021, 14(22), 7555; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14227555 - 12 Nov 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2113

Abstract

Blending hydrogen into the natural gas infrastructure is becoming a very promising practice to increase the exploitation of renewable energy sources which can be used to produce “green” hydrogen. Several research projects and field experiments are currently aimed at evaluating the risks associated with utilization of the gas blend in end-use devices such as the gas meters. In this paper, the authors present the results of experiments aimed at assessing the effect of hydrogen injection in terms of the durability of domestic gas meters. To this end, 105 gas meters of different measurement capabilities and manufacturers, both brand-new and withdrawn from service, were investigated in terms of accuracy drift after durability cycles of 5000 and 10,000 h with H₂NG mixtures and H₂ concentrations of 10% and 15%. The obtained results show that there is no metrologically significant or statistically significant influence of hydrogen content on changes in gas meter indication errors after subjecting the meters to durability testing with a maximum of 15% H₂ content over 10,000 h. A metrologically significant influence of the long-term operation of the gas meters was confirmed, but it should not be made dependent on the hydrogen content in the gas. No safety problems related to the loss of external tightness were observed for either the new or 10-year-old gas meters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Hydrogen and Natural Gas Substitute on the Gas Networks)

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Review

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27 pages, 3351 KiB

Open AccessReview

Estimation of the Influence of Compressed Hydrogen on the Mechanical Properties of Pipeline Steels

by Victor I. Bolobov, Il’nur U. Latipov, Gregory G. Popov, George V. Buslaev and Yana V. Martynenko

Energies 2021, 14(19), 6085; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14196085 - 24 Sep 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2921

Abstract

Consideration of the possibility of transporting compressed hydrogen through existing gas pipelines leads to the need to study the regularities of the effect of hydrogen on the mechanical properties of steels in relation to the conditions of their operation in pipelines (operating pressure range, stress state of the pipe metal, etc.). This article provides an overview of the types of influence of hydrogen on the mechanical properties of steels, including those used for the manufacture of pipelines. The effect of elastic and plastic deformations on the intensity of hydrogen saturation of steels and changes in their strength and plastic deformations is analyzed. An assessment of the potential losses of transported hydrogen through the pipeline wall as a result of diffusion has been made. The main issues that need to be solved for the development of a scientifically grounded conclusion on the possibility of using existing gas pipelines for the transportation of compressed hydrogen are outlined. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Hydrogen and Natural Gas Substitute on the Gas Networks)

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