Periodic Reporting for period 1 - THOTH2 (NOVEL METHODS OF TESTING FOR MEASUREMENT OF NATURAL GAS AND HYDROGEN MIXTURES)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-02-01 do 2024-04-30
EU energy roadmap require an immediate change of direction toward green energy transition and energy independence. However, new solutions must face techno-economic, normative barriers that could negatively impact social acceptance. Green hydrogen (H2) is a crucial element as an alternative fuel to decarbonize EU and to decouple intermittent renewable energy generation and demand while ensuring electric grid stability. H2 blending in existing gas infrastructure can play a central role in unlocking the green transition since i) no extensive investment would be required, ii) large H2 volumes can be transported over long distances, and gas cross-border transmission capacities are significantly high, improving countries' renewable energy exports/imports. To date, H2 blending is limited also due to uncertainties on the impact of new mixtures on the already installed devices in the gas value chain such as measuring ones. Dedicated tests could answer the question. However, the normative framework, including testing methodologies for Hydrogen and Natural Gas (H2NG) mixtures, is still under-construction.
Validated protocols are required to define the H2 limits and tolerances of the measuring devices installed in the NG grids. While international roadmaps focus on pure H2 or repurposed grids, the regulatory framework lacks the protocols and the methodology to be adopted to approve devices that could operate in different H2NG mixtures or pure H2. To date, the NewGasMet project proposed a set of test gas definitions to cover the gaps of EN437:2018.
About distribution, domestic gas meters, were and are going to be experimentally tested. However, while tests up to 20%vol in stationary conditions have been completed, some other aspects are still to be clarified. Due to the challenging operative conditions (pressure and flowrate in the order of tens of bar and thousands of Sm3/h), methodologies, recommendations, and guidelines on how to design and operate H2NG “big loop” testing facilities are still missed. The proposal for new and/or updating standards is therefore very challenging.
THOTH2 aims to cover the normative and standards gaps relating to methodologies and protocols for evaluating the performances and identifying the limits and the tolerances of State of the Art (SoA) measuring devices in transmission and distribution systems when carrying H2NG mixtures or pure H2. Therefore, THOTH2 will design dedicated methodologies to test different types of measuring devices installed in the gas transmission and distribution grids. THOTH2 results will be helpful to provide recommendations to the Technical Committees (TC) of International Standard Bodies, to Gas Transmission and Distribution Operators (TSOs, DSOs), to measuring devices’ manufacturers, and to calibration service providers.
Validated protocols are required to define the H2 limits and tolerances of the measuring devices installed in the NG grids. While international roadmaps focus on pure H2 or repurposed grids, the regulatory framework lacks the protocols and the methodology to be adopted to approve devices that could operate in different H2NG mixtures or pure H2. To date, the NewGasMet project proposed a set of test gas definitions to cover the gaps of EN437:2018.
About distribution, domestic gas meters, were and are going to be experimentally tested. However, while tests up to 20%vol in stationary conditions have been completed, some other aspects are still to be clarified. Due to the challenging operative conditions (pressure and flowrate in the order of tens of bar and thousands of Sm3/h), methodologies, recommendations, and guidelines on how to design and operate H2NG “big loop” testing facilities are still missed. The proposal for new and/or updating standards is therefore very challenging.
THOTH2 aims to cover the normative and standards gaps relating to methodologies and protocols for evaluating the performances and identifying the limits and the tolerances of State of the Art (SoA) measuring devices in transmission and distribution systems when carrying H2NG mixtures or pure H2. Therefore, THOTH2 will design dedicated methodologies to test different types of measuring devices installed in the gas transmission and distribution grids. THOTH2 results will be helpful to provide recommendations to the Technical Committees (TC) of International Standard Bodies, to Gas Transmission and Distribution Operators (TSOs, DSOs), to measuring devices’ manufacturers, and to calibration service providers.
WP1 “SoA, Barriers and bias on metering devices for NG blend” managed to reach:
• SoA of the installed measuring devices in NG transmission and distribution grids
• Data collection and analysis of the installed measuring devices in THOTH2 industrial partners grids.
• Identification of the technological barriers against the measuring of H2 and H2NG.
• SoA of NG transmission and distribution metrological framework
WP2 “Methodology and test protocols” achieved:
• Selection of devices to be tested in WP3 among those identified in T1.1
• Definition of a methodology to perform tests in order to identify H2 limits and tolerances of the selected devices.
• Writing of metrological protocols that allow to perform tests with selected devices with H2NG blends or pure H2.
WP3 Testing and validation, achieved the following results:
• Description of testing rigs and operative procedures.
• Description of conditions and procedures for delivery, handling, and transport; ageing of devices; testing of devices.
• General rules for documentation.
• Experimental validation and interlaboratory comparisons (ILC).
WP4 Standardization and market implementation, performed:
• Analysis of the European (CEN) and international (ISO) regulatory framework for combustible gases measuring devices.
• Identification of the main gaps needed to make the existing standards in conformity with pure hydrogen and H2NG blending uses.
• The THOTH2 project has been presented at the plenary meeting of CEN/TC237
• SoA of the installed measuring devices in NG transmission and distribution grids
• Data collection and analysis of the installed measuring devices in THOTH2 industrial partners grids.
• Identification of the technological barriers against the measuring of H2 and H2NG.
• SoA of NG transmission and distribution metrological framework
WP2 “Methodology and test protocols” achieved:
• Selection of devices to be tested in WP3 among those identified in T1.1
• Definition of a methodology to perform tests in order to identify H2 limits and tolerances of the selected devices.
• Writing of metrological protocols that allow to perform tests with selected devices with H2NG blends or pure H2.
WP3 Testing and validation, achieved the following results:
• Description of testing rigs and operative procedures.
• Description of conditions and procedures for delivery, handling, and transport; ageing of devices; testing of devices.
• General rules for documentation.
• Experimental validation and interlaboratory comparisons (ILC).
WP4 Standardization and market implementation, performed:
• Analysis of the European (CEN) and international (ISO) regulatory framework for combustible gases measuring devices.
• Identification of the main gaps needed to make the existing standards in conformity with pure hydrogen and H2NG blending uses.
• The THOTH2 project has been presented at the plenary meeting of CEN/TC237
SCIENTIFIC IMPACT
The THOTH2 project proposed new methodologies for evaluating the performances of metering devices (including the ones already installed in the gas networks) with H2NG mixtures and pure H2. The methodologies already developed will be soon applied to a list of preselected devices (deliverable D2.1) for being validated.
TECHNOLOGICAL IMPACT
The testing phase (WP3), in addition to validate the methodologies developed (WP2), will allow the consortium partners and, through the Stakeholders Advisory Board, also the technology manufactures, to better understand the potential impact of H2 on metering devices and identify solutions and mitigation strategies for overcoming the limits and barriers.
SOCIAL IMPACT
The performances of measuring devices are really important in any industrial, commercial and civil applications for different reasons: for economic and fiscal aspects, but also safety, compliance and environmental aspects. The THOTH2 project, once the methodologies will be validated and the results will be shared with the more relevant Standardization Technical Committees, it expected to support the development of a technical and regulatory framework, in line with the latest findings in the field of energy transition.
The THOTH2 project proposed new methodologies for evaluating the performances of metering devices (including the ones already installed in the gas networks) with H2NG mixtures and pure H2. The methodologies already developed will be soon applied to a list of preselected devices (deliverable D2.1) for being validated.
TECHNOLOGICAL IMPACT
The testing phase (WP3), in addition to validate the methodologies developed (WP2), will allow the consortium partners and, through the Stakeholders Advisory Board, also the technology manufactures, to better understand the potential impact of H2 on metering devices and identify solutions and mitigation strategies for overcoming the limits and barriers.
SOCIAL IMPACT
The performances of measuring devices are really important in any industrial, commercial and civil applications for different reasons: for economic and fiscal aspects, but also safety, compliance and environmental aspects. The THOTH2 project, once the methodologies will be validated and the results will be shared with the more relevant Standardization Technical Committees, it expected to support the development of a technical and regulatory framework, in line with the latest findings in the field of energy transition.