The Multi-Scale Mechanics (MSM) group (PI: Dr. Francesco Maresca) presents: Hydrogen in existing steel pipelines Dr.Ir. Alfons Krom, N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie (Groningen)

Abstract
Gasunie's hydrogen pipeline between Dow and Yara in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen has been brought in operation since 2018. This is the first time that an existing natural gas steel pipeline has been used for hydrogen transport. Hydrogen for industrial use will be exchanged via the pipeline. Underground transport via the gas network ensures that hydrogen will be transported safely and efficiently.

At ambient temperatures and low pressures hydrogen molecules do not have a negative effect on the mechanical behaviour of steel. In particular circumstances, atomic hydrogen can be formed from the molecules. This seminar will focus on the effect of atomic hydrogen on the mechanical properties of carbon steel, especially the enhancement of fatigue crack growth and how to deal with this negative effecy in steel pipelines.

References

https://www.gasunie.nl/en/expertise/hydrogen

Bio
Dr.Ir. Alfons Krom has been working as a material integrity specialist at N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie since 2008. He has both MSc and PhD degrees in Material Science and Engineering from Delft University of Technology (1998). After his PhD, he has been working for TNO on the fit for purpose of steel structures, especially on the interaction between weld defects, non-destructive testing, defect acceptance criteria and reliability of the steel structure.

Dr.Ir. Krom is currently responsible for the line pipe specification (for high pressure gas transport), failure and root cause analyses of materials, and defect assessment methods. He works together with colleagues from mechanical engineering, inspection and purchasing departments to obtain integer materials for the gas transport system of Gasunie. Also he is the “helpdesk” within Gasunie for material relating problems and advise on the use of materials.

He is member of the ISO working group on line pipe steel (ISO TC67 SC2 WG16), the materials committee of the European Pipeline Research Group (EPRG) and the working group materials (chair) of the Dutch pipeline design code NEN 3650 Currently he works on the acceptability of hydrogen gas in existing natural gas pipelines.