Modeling hydrogen embrittlement for pricing degradation in gas pipelines

Abstract

This paper addresses aspects of the critical challenge of hydrogen embrittlement in the context of Germany's transition to a sustainable, hydrogen-inclusive energy system. As hydrogen infrastructure expands, estimating and pricing embrittlement become paramount due to safety, operational, and economic concerns. We present a twofold contribution: We discuss hydrogen embrittlement modeling using both continuum models and simplified approximations. Based on these models, we propose optimization-based pricing schemes for market makers, considering simplified cyclic loading and more complex digital twin models. Our approaches leverage widely-used subcritical crack growth models in steel pipelines, with parameters derived from experiments. The study highlights the challenges and potential solutions for incorporating hydrogen embrittlement into gas transportation planning and pricing, ultimately aiming to enhance the safety and economic viability of Germany's future energy infrastructure.