Jason Amiri

HYDROGEN PIPELINE SYSTEMS

IGC Doc 121/14

Revision of Doc 121/04

 Jason Amiri

1- Scope and purpose

The scope of this document is for metallic

transmission and distribution piping systems
carrying pure hydrogen and hydrogen
mixtures.
 Jason Amiri

2- Exclusion

This document does not apply to the following

processes:
• cylinder filling plants
• producing plants
• compressor units
 Jason Amiri

3- Strength, hardness and

microstructure

Steels used in hydrogen pipeline service

should have a maximum hardness of
approximately Vickers 248. This hardness limit
is approximately equivalent to a tensile
strength limit of about 116 ksi (800 MPa).
 Jason Amiri

4- Weld and weld heat affected

zone (HAZ)

The hardness level of welds and the weld HAZ

should not exceed Rockwell C 22 which is
equivalent to Vickers 248.
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5- Carbon equivalent

The maximum carbon equivalent (CE) is 0.43.

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6- Leakage surveys

Pipelines should be surveyed between 1 and 4

times per year, depending upon the population
density in the area, and as defined by national
regulations. Particular attention should be paid
to flanged connections, valve stems, and
compression fittings.
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7- Hydrogen gas embrittlement

Hydrogen Gas Embrittlement (HGE) is the

generic term which encompasses all of the
detrimental effects which engineering alloys
might experience in hydrogen gas at ambient
temperatures.
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8- Hydrogen stress cracking (HSC)

Hydrogen stress cracking describes a phenomenon

which resembles stress corrosion cracking but
occurs in hydrogen gas. In the presence of
hydrogen gas (or another gas bearing hydrogen) a
material can become brittle and may fail if the stress
level is too high.
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9- Hydrogen assisted fatigue

Acceleration of fatigue crack growth and

degradation in fatigue endurance limits have
been observed in tests of susceptible materials
via both pre-cracked specimens and smooth
specimens in dry hydrogen gas environments.
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10- Stress corrosion cracking

(SCC)

Stress cracking of carbon/low alloy steel line

pipe in underground environments from both
anodic stress corrosion and/or hydrogen stress
cracking mechanisms has been reported.
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11- Hydrogen blistering

Hydrogen blistering is not pertinent because it

requires the presence of acidic electrolyte in
substantial amounts. In this mechanism, steels
exposed to acid electrolyte absorb large
quantities of hydrogen at local cathodes and
subsequently fissure and blister.
 Jason Amiri

12- Sulfide stress cracking

(SSC)

This is a subset of hydrogen embrittlement in

which the cathodic reaction controls the
cracking reaction. However, SSC occurs in
water within certain ranges of hydrogen sulfide
content.
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13- Hydrogen induced cracking

(HIC)

HIC is a degradation mode which generally

occurs in sour wet gas service. In this mode of
environmental damage, atomic hydrogen
formed during the corrosion process is trapped
in microscopic voids around nonmetallic
inclusions.
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14- Hydride formation

The degradation of mechanical properties and

cracking is due to the precipitation of metal
hydride phases. The most susceptible
materials are titanium, magnesium and
niobium alloys. The applied stress may
promote the formation of hydride in some alloy
systems.
Jason Amiri

Thank you