Hydrogen is viewed as one of the key components of the Green Energy Matrix as the electricity can be stored, unlike that of solar or wind. This makes it an essential to help meet consumer demands on days when solar and wind can’t.
Handling – handling the aggressive and brittle
Hydrogen itself is not an aggressive media but it has some characteristics which must be considered when it is being used. It may form an explosive atmosphere and so area classification is a vital consideration. In addition Hydrogen atoms can permeate through materials, this may lead to the embrittlement of metals used in some process instrumentation. These factors tend to be more prevalent when Hydrogen is working at either high temperatures or high pressures and is in a gaseous state.
It is the presence of H+ ions that can cause embrittlement of metallic materials. This is a phenomenon that causes loss of ductility and consequently the brittleness in a material. This is also known as hydrogen-induced cracking or hydrogen attack. This happens in the presence of both liquid or gasses and involves the ingress of hydrogen into the metal, reducing its ductility and load-bearing capacity. Due to the small size of the H+ ions, they can penetrate between the lattice structure of some metallic material and then recombine creating Hydrogen molecules H2.
Material selection and product type
For most industrial instrumentation applications, the permeation of hydrogen atoms is generated in the presence of high pressure and temperature. It also depends on many other conditions like corrosion, catalyst protection, media aggression, process fluid state, but in principle, it is necessary to take action where the process conditions are above 70bar and 170°C. High-strength and low-alloy steels, nickel and titanium alloys are the most susceptible materials to this phenomena and some care should be given to the selection of the materials of the wetted parts of the instrument. Monel and Hastelloy in particular, do not offer a great resistance to permeation.
We offer a range of instruments, many of which can be used with Hydrogen. See our Hydrogen Brochure for a list of products that can be used with Hydrogen, even when process conditions make embrittlement possible.
Collaborative nature of renewable energy
Cost of production is around $5 per kilogram, but with an initiative known as Hydrogen Shots, where intensive research and development is focussed on bringing costs down, it is suggested that the current costs could be reduced by 80%. In addition, the focus may shift to splitting water using energy from solar or wind, which would really make green energy interdependent upon itself.
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