Sorry to say I disagree with the assessment, certainly as regards to the UK. The pipelines that were installed in the 1970s to 1990s in the UK and in some cases later were built in API 5LX medium tensile steel and this material is subject to hydrogen embrittlement above 50% hydrogen, as are pipes running Anhydrous Ammonia. Typically 56" diameter, it would require an upgrade to 72" 32 grade line pipe with increased thickness. To withstand the increase in pressure and allow gad packing the pipeline. That would mean that a 40' trailer could carry only one length of pipe slowing down construction and increasing the size of laying equipment. Typically at large diameters, block valves and other large diameter fittings, would require lead times of up to 4 years. The UK has 4553miles of transmission grid. There are 19 compressor stations on the grid, with only standby compressor being reciprocating. All others are turbine compressors. There would be a need for 38 compressor stations, all subject to hydrogen embrittlement. The 619 pressure reduction stations would also need replacement. The difficulty about repurposing the existing lines, would be availability of lines for natural gas transmission and one could expect a drawn out conversion period. Last time a conversion took place the country was basically in discrete system areas, and took ten years to complete and cost £2 Billion. My own estimates for the transition would be £2-3Trillion. Of course as said, unless you have Hydrogen available you are going no where. Unless the government were going to destroy the British Steel industry steel production using Hydrogen would require nearly 50% of the UKs annual electrical generation. Natural Gas supplies 7 times the energy that electricity production does.
Proton technologies , Calgary , Canada, is turning old oil wells into very low cost hydrogen producing facilities , that can also be used as carbon sinks , as no CO 2 escapes the well. I believe this is right up your street.
Sorry to say I disagree with the assessment, certainly as regards to the UK. The pipelines that were installed in the 1970s to 1990s in the UK and in some cases later were built in API 5LX medium tensile steel and this material is subject to hydrogen embrittlement above 50% hydrogen, as are pipes running Anhydrous Ammonia. Typically 56" diameter, it would require an upgrade to 72" 32 grade line pipe with increased thickness. To withstand the increase in pressure and allow gad packing the pipeline. That would mean that a 40' trailer could carry only one length of pipe slowing down construction and increasing the size of laying equipment. Typically at large diameters, block valves and other large diameter fittings, would require lead times of up to 4 years. The UK has 4553miles of transmission grid. There are 19 compressor stations on the grid, with only standby compressor being reciprocating. All others are turbine compressors. There would be a need for 38 compressor stations, all subject to hydrogen embrittlement. The 619 pressure reduction stations would also need replacement. The difficulty about repurposing the existing lines, would be availability of lines for natural gas transmission and one could expect a drawn out conversion period. Last time a conversion took place the country was basically in discrete system areas, and took ten years to complete and cost £2 Billion. My own estimates for the transition would be £2-3Trillion. Of course as said, unless you have Hydrogen available you are going no where. Unless the government were going to destroy the British Steel industry steel production using Hydrogen would require nearly 50% of the UKs annual electrical generation. Natural Gas supplies 7 times the energy that electricity production does.
Proton technologies , Calgary , Canada, is turning old oil wells into very low cost hydrogen producing facilities , that can also be used as carbon sinks , as no CO 2 escapes the well. I believe this is right up your street.
Nice presentation, congrats
Old, lots of change