Technology Transition Corporation Establishes Office in the United Kingdom


ASME International is coordinating the population of three task forces:

1. Hydrogen Piping and Pipelines
   
2. Small Portable Hydrogen Tanks
   
3. Hydrogen Storage and Transport Tanks

ASME is recruiting experts and interested parties to serve with these groups as members and/or technical resources to scope out potential projects for hydrogen codes and standards.

Each of the three Task Forces below shall determine the scope and breadth of standardization for technology related to the hydrogen infrastructure taking into account needed requirements for design, testing, materials, fabrication, testing and service conditions. This includes addressing the following areas:

• Current codes and standards published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) or other Standard Development Organizations (SDOs) to be modified or augmented
  
• Identification of regulatory need and involvement
  
• New codes and standards to be developed, including detailed scope and outline
  
• Identification of users, and breadth of market for H2 C&S in this area
  
• Available volunteer and staff resources for standards development
  
• Research required to develop data and other information needed to initiate standards development including priority and rough order of magnitude estimates of cost and schedule requirements
  
• Timeline for both completion of research and standards development
  
• Recommendation to BPTCS for committee assignment of new standards actions or formation of new standards committees

Note: The Task Forces will not be preparing draft standards.

BPTCS Task Force on Hydrogen Piping and Pipelines
This task force is charged with addressing requirements for piping in hydrogen service within codes and standards. One possibility is a single standard that would contain requirements, including metallic and composite materials, for hydrogen piping and pipelines. Applications could include process plants, power generation stations, hydrogen vehicle refueling stations, transport tank refilling stations, pipelines and residential household applications. The standard might reference the following codes and standards:

• ASME B31.1 – Power Piping
  
• ASME B31.3 – Process Piping
  
• ASME B31.8 – Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems
  
• CGA 5.4 – Standard for Hydrogen Piping Systems at Consumer Locations
  
• NFPA 54 – National Fuel Gas Code

The user site piping code would depend on the hydrogen pressure and the preferences of the owner. Where there were choices for the referenced code, the standard would describe requirements for each that would result in equally safe installations.

BPTCS Task Force on Small Portable Hydrogen Tanks
The task force is charged with addressing requirements for small portable tanks in hydrogen service within codes and standards. One possibility is a standard that would contain requirements for portable tanks of all types that can store up to 5 kg of hydrogen including compressed gas at pressures on the order of 5000 psig and low-pressure metal hydrides. These portable tanks would be used to power small fuel cell sets for generating electricity in remote areas. These tanks may find their way into applications for which portable propane tanks are currently used, such as for barbeque grills. Tanks could be constructed of metal, non-metals and combinations thereof. Considerations would include internal combustion, a method to trap contaminants, and internal valving. The standard might reference:

• ASME B&PV Code, Section VIII, Divisions 1, 2 and 3
  
• ASME B&PV Code Section X
  
• SAE and/or ISO standard of vehicle fuel tanks

BPTCS Task Force on Hydrogen Storage and Transport Tanks
The task force is charged with addressing requirements for hydrogen storage tanks within codes and standards. A standard that would contain requirements, including metallic and composite materials, for both stationary and transport hydrogen storage tanks with capacities larger than 5 Kg of all types, including low-pressure metal hydride storage to storage at pressures up to say 10,000 psig. Applications might include storage at refueling stations, transport vehicle refilling stations, and a replacement for the back-yard propane tank. Tanks could be constructed of metal, non-metals and combinations thereof. Considerations would include internal combustion. The standard might reference:

• API 620 – Design and Construction of Large, Welded, Low-Pressure Storage Tanks
  
• API 650 – Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage
  
• ASME B&PV Code, Section VIII, Divisions 1, 2 and 3
  
• ASME B&PV Code Section X

A specific item for consideration is for bulk shipment of hydrogen using existing tube trailers, which at pressures of 20 MPa (2900 psi) will hold 63 Kg (140 lbs) of hydrogen. There are over 1400 such tube trailers operating in the U.S. Some trailers are configured to hold 460 Kg of hydrogen, but they are certified to operate at 60 MPa (8700 psi). For the industrial gas industry, truck costs increase with distance because of the high labor and fuel cost. Compressed gas transport is affected the most because it requires the greatest number of trips due to its low capacity. The existing trailers may be able to be modified to operate at 34.5 MPa by using the existing tube shells and providing hoop strength through a fiber-reinforced epoxy over wrap. This pressure increase will permit more than 109 Kg of hydrogen to be shipped.

Contact Gerry Eisenberg for more information:

Gerry Eisenberg
ASME International
M/S 20W3
3 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10016
E-mail: eisenbergg@asme.org