The impact of hydrogen injection on the operation of a residential distribution gas network

Abstract

Injecting hydrogen into the gas network each time involves a decrease in the calorific value of the resulting natural gas mixture by volume. Due to the requirement to deliver an identical stream of chemical energy contained in the fuel to consumers, it is necessary to compensate for the reduced calorific value by increasing the stream of gas directed to consumers. Thus, precise consideration of the impact of the addition of hydrogen on the capacity of the pipeline is required. For this purpose, the operation of a neighborhood gas network supplying gas to six residential buildings via fourteen gas connections was analyzed. The maximum percentage of hydrogen addition was determined, and a solution was proposed to increase the capacity of the gas network. Simulation of the pipeline operation showed the maximum percentage of hydrogen addition to natural gas depending on its structure. The two-ring variant allowed 55% hydrogen addition, while the single-ring variant allowed 49%.