Plastic Pipe (14.7)
Criticality: High
Progress: Not Addressed
Score: 40
DOT Relevance: §192.59; §192.501 – .517
Description of Key Area
The subject of use of
plastic pipe for hydrogen pipelines falls under Subpart B (Materials) of 49 CFR
192 as well as Subpart J (Test Requirements).
Discussion of Criticality
Large scale distribution
of hydrogen via a pipeline network would likely require both transmission and
distribution network components. The natural gas industry has found plastic
pipe to be a cost-effective and safe technology for the lower pressures and
flow encountered in the distribution system. Deploying steel at the
distribution level could prove to be costly.
Discussion of Progress
To assess the viability
of plastic distribution pipe for hydrogen service, material and structure
testing needs to be completed as well as testing of common joining methods
(bonding and fusion). These needs were expressed by ASME during its
presentation at the Materials and Components for the Hydrogen Economy Codes and
Standards Workshop held on August 29th to 30th,
2005, in Augusta, GA. ASME B31.12 will incorporate plastic pipe coverage as soon as
more data becomes available.
Recommendations
A standard for
acceptable plastic material should be defined. This may include polyethylene,
polyvinyl, polyamid, and other materials. Research and testing should be
conducted on plastic pipe to investigate its compatibility with hydrogen.
Specifically, materials suitable for use as hydrogen pipe must be identified,
and acceptable joining methods for plastic pipe and fittings must be identified.
Current plastic pipe standards should be amended to include hydrogen plastic
pipe and these amendments should be incorporated by reference into the federal
code.
|
