Hydrogen in gas pipelines: A good Idea? 

The only way forward with power consumption is to consume less of it.

Your concern is valid; but doesn't go far enough. I spent 35 years designing improvements for chemical plants; a number of them used H2 in the process. H2 loves to leak even through seals/gaskets that hold the larger molecules just fine (just as you suspected). It can even pass through some heated metals. You are correct that H2 rises rapidly and does not collect in sumps; instead it get trapped in the ceiling where all the lighting (which are ignition sources) is located. The ceiling/sheds above H2 compressors has to be treated as NORMALLY electrically hazardous just like sumps are treated for hydrocarbons. Hydrogen also requires much less spark energy to ignited it. This is reflected in the classification of the "explosion proof" electrical equipment that can be used for H2. Most hydrocarbons (methane, gasoline, propane, etc) require the equipment to be rated as Group D which is fairly easy to build. Group C chemicals (which require less energy to ignite) are ether, carbon monoxide; ethylene and it is common knowledge how easy ether is to ignite - think engine starting fluid. Hydrogen is in Group B which needs very little energy to ignite and requires extreme levels to protect the electrical equipment from igniting any H2 in the atmosphere. The cost of this equipment is expensive for Group D and C but really jumps up for Group B. Pure Hydrogen also burns with an invisible flame. If a leak was suspected in the plant, some operators would wave a broom around the potential leak and see if the broom caught fire. I would NEVER put H2 in a piping system that was not designed for that service. It is possible that a system designed for methane could contain H2 but every single component needs to be evaluated by a number of different engineers before the switch is made. Most of the time it would be cheaper to just buy new H2 rated equipment than do all the evaluations.

Always Great Info. I hope your knees are feeling better! Best Regards!

I love your videos. my instructor from Charter College used to put your videos in class. MR MARCUS Mitchell 1959-2022. Yakima Aa

Didn’t know about this, thanks for the heads up!👍

I agree I don’t think we can contain hydrogen with the current mix of piping found in infrastructure. Got the makings for leak city!

Hydrogen embrittlement? That would be my biggest concern....

Good conversation. From what I have always heard, Hydrogen is more volotile gas than natural gas. They used Hydrogen gas in the Hindenburg.

Thank you for the information. Any more information on my rumbling oil furnace? I know you're very busy but you have helped before and I appreciate it. Thank you.

I don’t think the gas meters would even work with hydrogen. Everyone’s meter at their house would have to be replaced with something that could work with such a light gas. I don’t think the meter would even paddle with hydrogenate gas. Meaning they wouldn’t be able to charge anybody for the hydrogen.

lol - hydrogen is primary extracted from natural gas to begin with. though it can be produced with electricity - electrolysis.

It might depend on the region, but in MN the steel gas pipelines have mostly been replaced with polyethylene pipe starting from the late 70s or early 80s. Of course iron pipe and copper pipe runs exist inside houses, but PE pipes are fused by physically melting them together or via punching the main for service connections.

Just because something can be done doesn’t make it wise. All these houses exploding recently has me concerned. Why didn’t someone smell the sulfur?

So, in order to detect a leak big enough for hydrogen molecules to slip throught but too small methane molecules, you will need to do it the good old way: lighting up a match. Don't think we have a simple device to detect hydrogen gas in small concentration. Will soapy water work? I don't know.

I don’t see any issue with it other than it will dilute the BTU value of the natural gas steam…meaning you will be paying for less total BTU’s entering your home or business. I worked in a refinery for 40+ years and we called hydrogen “hot air” because it was basically worthless as a heating fuel

Higher liability means higher job cost

Coal gas: The original coal gas was produced by the coal gasification reaction, and thus the burnable component consisted of mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in roughly equal quantities by volume.

I'm working on a project with my employer to build a hydrogen recovery system. There is no way that H2 will be viable in natural gas pipelines. It will leak out everywhere - in places you would not expect. Additionally, the only safe way to use H2 is to incorporate H2 leak detectors and ventilation systems. The cost would be exceptional.

Correct. Then there is pressure, then there is burner jets. It should be produced at source then used to fuel conventional style electrucal generation and or fuel cell. Nitrogen? What? No, not explosive. The atmosphere is mainly nitrogen. Way wrong on that one.

Timestamp 7:28 another Nitrogen faux pas in need of a hydrogen label

Mega press to save the day!😂😂😂😂😂😮

The fact the Biden administration is involved with this is big red flag for me