TransHyDE: Hydrogen transportation—TransHyDE_FP2 joint project: Safe infrastructure

Project description

In order to establish a secure and sustainable hydrogen infrastructure, pipelines, storage facilities, and connection points have to be suitable for hydrogen in the long term. The TransHyDE joint project “Safe Infrastructure” tested and evaluated various materials in terms of their safety and service life. It developed hydrogen gas sensors as well as measurement techniques and control systems to reliably detect possible gas leaks, gas mixture compositions, or minor impurities in pure hydrogen gas. To test the safe distribution of hydrogen in practice, the project partners converted a local natural gas distribution network in a residential area in a city in Bavaria to hydrogen gas.

Fraunhofer IWM subproject

The development of a safe hydrogen infrastructure requires materials and components that can withstand direct contact with hydrogen gas over a long period of time. Prolonged contact can cause various types of damage to metals, especially steels, known as hydrogen embrittlement. This results in a loss of structural mechanical strength in the components. In the joint project, Fraunhofer IWM evaluated materials and components in direct contact with H2 gas and developed testing and simulation methods to assess the reliability of materials in components for accident-proof and resource-efficient hydrogen infrastructure systems.