EVRAZ North America completes testing on hydrogen transporting steel
Testing is being conducted at a RINA-CSM S.p.A, a leading independent European research center specializing in hydrogen and fracture mechanics.
EVRAZ North America announced a major step towards full qualification of its High-Frequency Welded (HFW) line pipe for high-pressure, 100% hydrogen transmission.
In June 2022, EVRAZ became the first vertically integrated and the first North American pipe producer to successfully complete fracture toughness testing in a 100% gaseous hydrogen environment on its API 5L X65 Sour Service line pipe, according to ASME B31.12, the only currently available code for the design of hydrogen pipelines.
After 1,000 hours under 100% hydrogen conditions at 100 bar (1,500 psi), the 20” x 0.500” X65 SS pipe samples demonstrated good, long-term fracture toughness and resistivity to hydrogen embrittlement in both pipe body and weld, with K1H values for fracture toughness meeting ASME B31.12 criteria under Option B.
By the fourth quarter of 2022, ENA will also complete full qualification testing, under ASME B31.12, of new X65 pipe grades designed for 100% hydrogen and high-impurity CO2 transmission, at pressures up to 100 bar. Upon successful qualification, ENA will be the first North American line pipe producer qualified for high-pressure, 100% hydrogen pipeline transportation.
All pipe samples are produced in Regina, Saskatchewan and made from steel at ENA Regina Steel, the Company’s EAFbased steel mill.
Hydrogen is a core component of ENA’s alternative energy strategy, which also includes carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and geothermal energy. In 2021, EVRAZ expanded its research and development (R&D) capabilities with the establishment of its Alternative Energy R&D group dedicated to the advancement of ENA’s steelmaking, line pipe and OCTG for hydrogen and CO2 transmission and storage and geothermal drilling applications.
The new R&D team includes senior research engineer, Dr Eun Jung Seo, who recently joined EVRAZ from the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO.
