Hydrogen Skills and Standards for Heat: summaries of workstreams undertaking technical research and evidence gathering
Updated 13 April 2022
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Five contracts within the programme have been awarded to suppliers to undertake supporting technical research and evidence gathering.
Lot 1: Hydrogen Purging, Tightness and Material Compatibility
Led by: Steer Energy Solutions Ltd
Description: Research on purging of piped gas systems to identify where additional data is required to permit the development of safe purging procedures for both domestic and non-domestic environments. Research into gas tightness and material compatibility of existing pipework and fittings used downstream of the ECV to establish gas tightness for hydrogen gas against natural gas as a baseline.
Lot 2: Hydrogen Material and Component Suitability
Led by: TWI Ltd
Description: Research to determine materials which are suitable for use with hydrogen downstream of the ECV in domestic and non-domestic premises. The work will initially consist of a literature search followed by experimental testing (where the literature search concludes additional evidence is required) to quantify the relative risk of using these materials with hydrogen against the baseline of natural gas systems.
Lot 3: Hydrogen Installation Ventilation and Flues
Led by: Kiwa Ltd
Description: This work will undertake a set of scenario specific ventilation and flueing projects to address specific gaps in the evidence base. The work is not seeking to examine whole property ventilation. It is intended to provide evidence to understand the requirements of specific sub-categories of installation work such as ventilation of inter floor piping / voids and flueing requirements of specific appliances such as hydrogen gas fires.
Lot 4: Hydrogen Pipe Sizing and Pressure Drop Criteria
Led by: Frazer Nash Consultancy Ltd
Description: Research to confirm an appropriate and standardised methodology to be applied to installation pipework sizing. This will ensure that such pipework has adequate capacity to deliver the flow of hydrogen (per mass or per volume) required to deliver the same flow of energy required to hydrogen burning appliances. Sizing methodology output will take the form of ready reckoner tables in terms of power requirement.
Lot 5: Hydrogen Meter (Internal and External) Ventilation Study and Excess Flow Valve (EFV) Installation and Set-Point
Led by: GL Industrial Services Ltd (DNV)
Description: Research to consider representative, internal and external, meter housing, design considerations including necessary clearances, ventilation requirements for gas and the potential for humidity/water build up. Research to consider items such as the installation and calibration of EFVs to cover domestic and non-domestic supply. This will include what methodology and basis will be used to set the shut-off point for the valves during operation and purging alongside understanding how to check and test them.