Influence of impurities in hydrate formation in H2 pipelines

Abstract

The production of hydrogen as an alternative fuel for combating climate change has been promoted recently during the current energy transition. However, hydrogen, whether blue or green, brown, etc, often involves impurities, potentially leading to gas hydrate formation in transmission pipelines. This study investigates the impact of common impurities, such as CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, and CO₂, on gas hydrate formation in hydrogen-rich pipelines, crucial for ensuring safe operations. Gas hydrates, notorious for causing high risks of blockages in oil and gas pipelines, pose higher risks in hydrogen pipelines, potentially leading to downtime and economic losses. This work predicts hydrate formation under varying conditions using two different simulation software Aspen HYSYS (v.14) and HydraFlash (v.3.5.8). Results reveal that H₂S, C₃H₈, and C₂H₆ notably influence hydrate phase curves, respectively, shifting them to higher temperatures. Notably, Aspen HYSYS exhibits stronger correlations with experimental data for multicomponent systems with high hydrogen concentrations. This study underscores the importance of understanding hydrate formation risks in hydrogen pipelines and provides valuable insights for their safe operation and maintenance.