WIAS Preprint No. 3201, (2025)

Modeling hydrogen embrittlement for pricing degradation in gas pipelines



Authors

  • Amer, Zeina
  • Avdzhieva, Ana
  • Bongarti, Marcelo
    ORCID: 0000-0002-9027-7702
  • Dvurechensky, Pavel
    ORCID: 0000-0003-1201-2343
  • Farrell, Patricio
    ORCID: 0000-0001-9969-6615
  • Gotzes, Uwe
  • Hante, Falk M.
  • Karsai, Attila
  • Kater, Stefan
  • Landstorfer, Manuel
    ORCID: 0000-0002-0565-2601
  • Liero, Matthias
    ORCID: 0000-0002-0963-2915
  • Peschka, Dirk
    ORCID: 0000-0002-3047-1140
  • Plato, Luisa
    ORCID: 0000-0003-3456-1570
  • Spreckelsen, Klaus
  • Taraz, Johannes
  • Wagner, Barbara
    ORCID: 0000-0001-8306-3645

2020 Mathematics Subject Classification

  • 35R02 74A45 74M10

Keywords

  • Hydrogen embrittlement, gas networks, fatigue damage

DOI

10.20347/WIAS.PREPRINT.3201

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.

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