First contract for valves for transportation of natural gas with added hydrogen
Climate change mitigation is currently an important topic for the whole world. The European Commission created in July 2020 Hydrogen Strategy for a climate neutral Europe, which goal is to speed up the development of pure hydrogen and ensure that it becomes the basis for a climate neutral energy system by 2050. Gas infrastructure will be an important part of this transition to green gases.
For this reason, we are also increasingly seeing demands in our industry for valves that would comply with hydrogen operations or the transport of natural gas and hydrogen in different percentages. Both in the Czech Republic and throughout Europe.
In April, ARMATURY Group received its first order from the Czech gas transmission system operator. Company NET4GAS. These are five pieces of high-pressure S43.3 gate valves in the size of DN 300 PN 100 for the project "Moravia Capacity Extension", which ensure to provide an ecological energy source for industry in the South Moravian, Zlín, Olomouc and Moravian-Silesian regions. A mixture of natural gas with 10% hydrogen will flow through the valves.
„We had to solve a few technical issues. First, there is a requirement for helium testing of the valves. Since helium is a rare gas, it is limited in quantity on our planet and these tests are costly. An agreement has been made to test mixtures of 90% nitrogen and 10% helium, which will be equally conclusive," says Libor Kremel, Commercial Director, describing the first hydrogen valves contract.
Other challenges include, for example, preventing a possible hydrogen reaction with other chemical elements in the valve structure, whether they are gate valves or ball valves, or preventing hydrogen from escaping into the environment.
"Our valves have passed demanding tests and all these increased requirements for tightness are met," says Rostislav Rakús, sales representative of ARMATURY Group, adding: "We plan to deliver the valves at the end of September of this year and I believe that the valves for this project, which will help to increase the transmission capacity of the gas network in Central and South Moravia, will successfully serve for many years.!
ARMATURY Group wants to use the practical experience gained from the new valve design and testing in other projects where natural gas is expected to be transported with up to 50% hydrogen.
For more information:
Rostislav Rakús, Sales Representative
