Tools4TestingH2

Development of TOOLS FOR cost-effective TESTING of materials’ susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement for their use in H2 gas storage and distribution metallic components. The European Union is aiming to achieve a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and emission neutrality by 2050. A wider adoption of green hydrogen would significantly contribute to meeting these targets, but the challenge of providing safe and cost-effective storage and transportation systems on a large scale remains. One of the options being considered is in the form of pressurized gas in tanks and pipelines, as existing infrastructure for natural gas transport and storage could be exploited provided that some modifications are made to adapt it to the characteristics of hydrogen. However, despite the advances in the last years, there are no agreements on the suitable materials for safe transport of hydrogen from low-cost hydrogen production regions to regions of hydrogen demand or to ensure storage at the required scale near the site of application with safety. Issues with safety arise because of the known effect of hydrogen on metallic materials through Hydrogen Embrittlement phenomenon, which produces stress cracking, among other damages.
Tools4TestingH2 will develop digital and hardware tools for testing and inspecting hydrogen storage and distribution component materials. A software for predicting failure time and damage will permit the rapid validation of new materials to be used in the selected infrastructures in a reliable and cost-effective manner, while non-destructive methodologies will be established for early hydrogen embrittlement detection and monitoring. All of this will support the establishment of a safe and efficient European hydrogen storage, supply and distribution infrastructure, contributing in turn towards the EU’s sustainability targets.
The contribution of each partner is described below:

• DESIGN, BUSINESS & VERIFICATION SERVICES, S.L is the project coordinator and will develop maintenance procedures for H2 storage and distribution components.
• HEREON will develop predictive Hydrogen Embrittlement model for several materials used for hydrogen storage and distribution components.
• NUROMEDIA will produce a Graph-based data management system, in which experimental data will be implemented.
• TECNITEST will develop non-destructive techniques to monitor and detect the presence of material transformations due to hydrogen absorption.

CIDETEC’S role in the project:

CIDETEC will use its broad experience in materials for hydrogen-related applications to participate in the definition of sample specifications and the fabrication of the demo testing system, which will be assembled at CIDETEC´s facilities. CIDETEC will also supply the HPB-coated samples, generate testing data and perform the post-mortem analysis. Finally, CIDETEC will cooperate in the assessment of non-destructive techniques and give support in the project coordination.