Hydrogen for the Green Economy
Background
Future users of hydrogen technologies will likely use natural gas streams with blends of hydrogen, which will produce contaminants such as hydrocarbons, acid gases, and others. This contaminant issue is a concern as it can affect hydrogen stress corrosion cracking.
Numerous recent engineering analyses and research projects have concluded that hydrogen will play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by providing a green fuel for the future. This transition is on a fast track since meeting Net Zero Carbon Emissions have been set for 2050 and 50-52% of that goal has been set by President Biden for 2030.
Although hydrogen is the most abundant, smallest, lightest, and cleanest element used as a fuel, with the exception of nuclear elements, it is also one of the most complex elements to produce store, transport, and use as an energy source. Hydrogen’s unique properties, such as flammability range, tend to auto ignite under stoichiometric conditions with minimal ignition energy, which may embrittle materials causing stress corrosion cracking. The migration through many materials typically used in the Natural Gas Industry presents many technical challenges.
In response to these industry needs, ASME has formed a Hydrogen for a Green Economy Steering Committee, along with the development of an ongoing Hydrogen Guidance Document to address the needs and concerns for hydrogen for the green economy.
Current Status
Hydrogen for the Green Economy Steering Committee:
Comprising of volunteers from across the enterprise, ASME has formed a steering committee to recommend and assist ASME in coordinating all the green hydrogen products and services, such as conferences, webinars, publications, and research efforts. The steering committee will:
- Identify industry needs and propose products and services to address those needs
- Facilitate the technical and market justification to proceed forward, including identification of the appropriate ASME Business Unit responsible to develop that product or service
- Update existing standards for hydrogen transport and storage (e.g., B31.12, BPVC VIII-3);
- Coordinate and track status and progress of Enterprise-wide hydrogen products and services
The steering committee meets every month and consists of a dozen members.
Development of an ASME Hydrogen Guidance Document:
For each product identified, the investigator will propose a thorough review to assess and characterize:
- Where the product lies on the hydrogen landscape
- The audience the product is addressing, e.g., manufacturers, designers
- Usability of the products within the hydrogen industry landscape at a high-level
- Areas of confusion, if any, within the use of the products
The investigator will then propose to provide a gap analysis to identify deficiencies in the current standards, or topics that should be considered for additional consideration, based on the current industry practices and challenges. Based on the findings of the review and gap analysis, the investigator will develop the proposed Guidance Document, which may address the following:
- A list of relevant ASME products in relation to the hydrogen portfolio
- Summary of key technical challenges faced by practitioners with respect to hydrogen transition within existing infrastructure
- Identification of gaps in guidance from ASME hydrogen standards and publications with a specific lens to relevant key technical challenges users of ASME standards are facing
- Existing gaps in other non-ASME standards and publications with recommendations on how to address a market need
- Recommendations on how to address the identified gaps and the overall market needs for standards and guidance from ASME
The anticipated value from the Guidance document will be the detailed gap analysis, identifying the key questions and challenges facing current practitioners, and areas for further guidance from ASME documents. Additionally, based on the specific gaps identified the investigator will provide recommendations whether these gaps can be best addressed by revising existing standards or whether the gaps would warrant separate ASME document(s).
To see a list of all of ASME's activities addressing hydrogen technologies please see ASME's Clean Hydrogen Portfolio.
Meetings and Events
The Hydrogen for the Green Economy Steering Committee meets every month for about 90 minutes.
ASME Power Division Conference (Power R&D)
August 6–9, 2023
Long Beach, CA
The conference is a unique event that focuses research and development specifically relevant to power generation as it applies to current and future power industry issues, applications, and emerging technologies. Program topics are:
- Advanced Combustion Systems and Cycles
- Steam Power Generation
- Plant Management, Performance & Operations
- Sustainable Power Solutions
- Digital Twins Analysis & Cyber-Physical Systems
Turbomachinery Technical Conference & Exposition (Turbo Expo)
June 24–28, 2024
London, England, UK
A global event for professionals who want to stay current on new technology and industry trends and developments in turbomachinery. Program sessions led industry experts cover Hydrogen and Energy Storage, Clean Combustion and Dynamics, Heat Transfer, Materials and Ceramics, Mechanical Integrity, Aerodynamics, and more.
Pressure Vessels & Piping Conference® (PVP)
July 28- August 2, 2024, Bellevue, Washington
The PVP Conference is the ideal platform to keep up with new technologies, network and interact with experts, practitioners, and peers in the Pressure Vessels & Piping area.
For other ASME events see Conference & Event Overview
OTHER UPCOMING STANDARDS MEETINGS
August 6-11, 2023 - Boiler Code Week – Virtual Meetings
November 12-17, 2023 – Boiler Code Week – Las Vegas, NV
September 18-22, 2023 – B31 & Nonmetallic Pressure Piping Code Week - Las, Vegas, NV
Clean Energy Technology Group
- Working on setting up a hydrogen group under the clean technology committee
- Discussing underground storage of hydrogen
Staff Contact
If you’re interested in learning more or participating in these activities, please contact Grace Bolan.