Hydrogen embrittlement of pipeline steels for transporting hydrogen and natural gas blends

It is uncertain if existing pipelines for natural gas transportation can be directly used for hydrogen or hydrogen-natural gas blends. Hydrogen embrittlement of pipeline steels can impose significant risk for operational safety.

Our areas of focus

Our research and development (R&D) centres on

  • conducting experiments using in-house built apparatus to test various pipeline steel coupons when they are exposed to hydrogen-nitrogen blends with/without inhibiting gases such as oxygen (O2), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon Dioxide (CO2)
  • determining hydrogen desorption rates of the exposed steel coupons by using thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS)
  • assessing and quantifying the hydrogen embrittlement on steel surface, in collaboration with CanmetMATERIALS

Contact information

For information about our team, research, or to work with us, please contact:

Jinwen Chen, Ph.D., FCAE, Director – Downstream and Renewables
jinwen.chen@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
(780) 884 9337