By Jon Kaufman, Business Unit Manager, BelGAS

The quest for a sustainable global energy source is well-documented, with the search for inexpensive “green energy” ongoing for decades. In recent years, hydrogen has emerged as a promising solution, with the potential to provide a steady supply of sustainable, clean-burning fuel.

As a global leader in the design and manufacture of pressure control products, BelGAS, a member of the Marsh Bellofram Group of Companies, is invested in energy’s future. Our engineering and R&D teams are working on the solutions of tomorrow, and our entire company stands ready to provide guidance to customers as the world navigates these changes.

Like all existing technologies that we take for granted today, their earliest innovations weren’t possible until research and development made them possible. In the future, we may look to hydrogen as a clean energy source, but there is still work to be done and discoveries to be made.

Because hydrogen molecules are smaller than those comprising natural gas, current regulator technology must adapt to safely manage the load. BelGAS R&D is examining this issue right now, measuring, validating, and evolving the science on regulator technology to accelerate bringing hydrogen forward as a new energy source.

According to the Hydrogen Council, investment in hydrogen projects by 2030 will total $500 billion. Some studies have shown that hydrogen is capable of supporting one-quarter of the world’s energy needs by 2050. Greater investment will lower its cost and create more opportunities. As these different opportunities are explored, we will truly find out the potential of hydrogen and how it can help us decarbonize the world.

For nations to meet their emissions reduction goals, hydrogen must play a major role in the world’s energy future.

Smaller molecule, bigger challenge

The energy sector has been accustomed to the combustion engine and conventional gas transmission for decades now, which may provide something of a head start on hydrogen transmission in that we already understand certain fundamentals about energy derived from gaseous substances. Hydrogen presents an opportunity to help decarbonize our world without a major shift in infrastructure. We will be able to blend hydrogen with natural gas safely and reduce carbon emissions. However, we must also be aware of the limitations of the current infrastructure as it pertains to hydrogen transmission.

The reason for these limitations is that the hydrogen molecule is significantly smaller than the molecule of methane, the primary component of natural gas. Attempting a straight transferal of hydrogen into the existing natural gas infrastructure will result in excessive leaking and inefficient delivery. So, it is important that regulators are sealed tightly so that the hydrogen gas does not leak. This is what the BelGAS helium test bench is studying. Hydrogen is also known to embrittle certain metallic materials under stress. So, applications must be sensitive to material compatibility.

Proving Ground: Testing the Technology of Tomorrow

The BelGAS research and development team had something to prove, in this case, the potential role hydrogen might play as a future energy feed source. As such, the engineering team has developed its own in-house helium test bench to check pressure regulators and other flow control devices for external leakage. Helium is used to test for hydrogen readiness because it is non-combustible, therefore easier to handle, and is actually a slightly smaller molecule than hydrogen.

So, if a pressure regulator can seal helium without leaking, it will seal hydrogen.

The tabletop testing system uses an automated clamping system to attach the regulator to be tested to a fixture. The clamp seals along the inlet and outlet of the regulator to start the pressurized helium. A see-through enclosure is secured over the entire testing mechanism to contain any potential leakage. Inside, a mass flow meter detects if even a small amount of helium leaks from the regulator. In addition, a high-precision helium sniffer can detect the location of the leak.

The ultimate goal is to provide internal certification from BelGAS that a given pressure regulator has passed helium testing for external leakage and is approved for use with hydrogen. Because there is currently no ISO or ANSI standards for such an application, this in-house certification can give peace of mind to end-users that a pressure regulator is safe to use in hydrogen applications.

Testing began with the BelGAS Type P38 non-relieving gas and propane regulator, due to both its smaller envelope and because a customer reported they have been using that regulator to control flow of 100% hydrogen for 18 years with no problems. Testing will continue through the other regulators in the BelGAS product line.

This testing could also lead to the development of new products specifically designed for the hydrogen market, with diaphragms, assemblies, seals, O-rings, and other components redesigned to meet application demands.

Burns clean … expensive to cleanly produce

Hydrogen comes with many benefits as an energy source, not the least of which is that its only byproduct is water. It burns much cleaner than fossil fuels and leaves virtually no carbon footprint. Another plus is that hydrogen is plentiful throughout the planet; in fact, it’s the most common element on earth.

However, it is always bound to another substance, meaning it must be separated before it’s viable to use. This is why hydrogen is defined as an energy vector, not an energy source.

There are many methods for processing hydrogen, each with their own pros and cons, but most require the use of an energy source that does create carbon. Those that don’t are prohibitively expensive (although the recently passed US Inflation Reduction Act does provide for tax credits that will make American green hydrogen the cheapest in the world, as low as $0.73 USD per kilogram). So separating hydrogen becomes a matter of compromise. Choose a production method that creates greenhouse gasses or choose a cleaner method that is much more expensive.

The most common current method for hydrogen production is Steam Methane Reforming (SMR), where steam and methane are combined with heat to yield hydrogen. However, carbon dioxide is produced in the reaction and needs to be captured to reduce environmental impact. The production method of electrolysis uses electricity to produce hydrogen and can have a low environmental impact if the electricity is generated from renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

Selecting the best hydrogen-producing technology often depends on the application. Incorporating carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) can reduce or eliminate the carbon footprint of hydrogen derived from separation powered by fossil fuels. In CCUS, carbon expended during the process is collected instead of being released. It can be used for a variety of purposes, including as an additive to plastics and concrete, as plant food, as a refrigerant, or for injection into wells for oil and gas recovery. It can also be stored in underground and above-ground facilities and in abandoned oil and gas reservoirs.

Playing the percentages

A key question that needs to be answered is what concentration level of hydrogen will be most viable for conversion into consumer energy. Hydrogen produces less energy than the same volume of natural gas, so maximizing the percentage of hydrogen in any fuel blends becomes paramount.

Current studies show that up to 20% hydrogen can be blended into existing natural gas infrastructure without any issues affecting end users’ appliances. Globally, there are utilities currently experimenting with blends in which anywhere from 5% to 30% hydrogen is mixed into conventional gas.

It's worth mentioning that, in 2016, Northern Gas Networks of Leeds, England, carried out a feasibility study that found a conversion to 100% hydrogen using the current gas network was technically possible and economically realistic. It is believed to be the first-time standard gas operational procedures were tested under 100% hydrogen conditions on an existing network. 

The differing proposed hydrogen percentages to blend into the current natural gas supply illustrate a challenge facing makers of energy transmission equipment. We’ve already established the hydrogen molecule is smaller and prone to escape from fittings and fixtures made for standard gas. Now we know the new standard must accommodate hydrogen at concentration levels somewhere between 5% and 100%. Which is to say, nothing has really been determined at all.

The path to hydrogen

The goal of BelGAS is to engineer and produce pressure regulation products impervious to hydrogen leakage at the highest concentrations, to maximize energy delivery for end users and service management for energy providers.

At BelGAS, we already have a proven track record of success in the design and manufacture of pressure, flow, and other transmission regulation and management products for the energy industry. As the hydrogen fuel industry has continued to grow, we’ve been there in lockstep with the latest developments, assisting hydrogen leaders in creating the pressure and flow solutions for tomorrow.

Investment from governments and private sources continually pours into the market, changing the landscape on an almost daily basis. As the list of global players grows, strategic partners need to source suppliers who are experts in this rapidly evolving industry. Suppliers in the energy sector with a proven history of innovation, a deep knowledge base, and a reputation for collaboration and high customer service values provide an edge in the market.

The scalability of hydrogen fuel solutions will require a strict adherence to high standards of hydrogen protection and safe operation, such that the material transmits with no leakage and arrives at its destination with no incidents anywhere along the way. BelGAS is committed to partnering with premier energy leaders and policy makers to provide safe, scalable solutions for hydrogen transmission.

It’s an exciting time to be in the energy field, as most everyone agrees we are on the cusp of the next great energy source in hydrogen. But there is little consensus on how we make it viable, leaving it up to individuals and collectives to forge their own paths. In many ways, we are writing the rules of the next energy dawn as we go. The processes we experiment with and refine now may very well define energy protocols for generations.

About the author: Jon Kaufman is the BelGAS Business Unit Manager at Marsh Bellofram and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Penn State University. For more information on this emerging science, contact (304) 387-1200, info@belgas.net.