Validation Program for Seals and Flange Gaskets in Hydrogen and Hydrogen-Methane Blends Applications

Abstract There is an increasing interest in hydrogen as a clean energy carrier in decarbonizing energy systems. Hydrogen’s various production paths and use for storing and transporting energy make it a flexible option for linking diverse sources of power generation with transmission and distribution networks. Large-scale hydrogen consumption will require a well-developed hydrogen transport infrastructure. For example, the European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) initiative, bringing together more than thirty energy infrastructure operators, is working on the definition of hydrogen infrastructure including existing and new pipelines. Seals are identified as key components for the performances of these infrastructures, but a lack of recognized test protocols and available test data are reported by the end-users. In this context, with several partners, Cetim (Technical Center for Mechanical Industry) has launched in 2022 a testing program on different seal types (“O”-rings, gaskets and dynamic seals) to evaluate their sealing performances and integrity (including Rapid Gas Decompression) with 100% hydrogen, 20% hydrogen - 80% methane blends and 100% helium (or 100% methane) as a reference gas. Long term thermal ageing was also involved to check the performances stability. This paper will identify facilities presently in use for validation, the testing protocols with which these tests are conducted and most importantly, their results.