The energy industry as a whole has come to realize the potential of hydrogen as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. However, this hydrogen economy cannot function without a safe and efficient infrastructure. A large part of hydrogen transportation will take place via existing gas networks and/or newly constructed pipelines dedicated to hydrogen.

Based on its many years of experience in a wide variety of material testing, the ROSEN Group is expanding its existing material testing capabilities and dedicating a separate section to the topic of hydrogen. Hydrogen can have an adverse effect on the fracture and fatigue properties of steel. The magnitude of the effect can vary, depending on steel grade and microstructure, concentration of hydrogen, and other factors.
Therefore, integrity assessments need to be based on the material properties in hydrogen, which are usually not known in case of existing lines and must be assessed as part of the process of (re)purposing the lines for hydrogen transportation. Guidance on the design of hydrogen pipelines is given in ASME B31.12, including fracture toughness testing.

In response, ROSEN’s testing capabilities offer the possibility of conducting material and exposure tests in a hydrogen atmosphere (hydrogen blends and pure hydrogen) at a temperature of up to 200°C and a pressure of up to 150 bar. The facility will be equipped to complete:

• Environmental fracture toughness tests
• Constant load/displacement KIH tests according to ASME B31.12
• Rising displacement J-R tests according to CSA CHMC 1
• Environmental fatigue crack growth tests according to CSA CHMC 1
• Tensile tests in hydrogen atmosphere
• Environmental slow strain rate tests
• Material testing of new pipe according to ASME B31.12

With this laboratory, the ROSEN Group offers the industry all the material testing methods necessary to ensure the safe transportation of hydrogen in pipelines. In addition, internal research and development activities in the field of hydrogen will be supported and promoted. The construction work for the facility is in its final phase, and with the delivery of the necessary equipment, it is on track to be completed in early 2022.