Hydrogen piping
From ArticleWorld
Hydrogen piping refers to the system of pipes used to channel hydrogen between various locations within an industrial installation. Hydrogen is used in a number of industrial applications that include metallurgy, petroleum, glass and ceramics, hydrogenation in the food industry and nuclear fuel. Hence it is necessary to maintain high standards of engineering when installing piping for transporting the gas.
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Codes of standards for hydrogen piping
Standards of safety that are followed by the industry during the design of piping may be prepared by the organization itself or from among those laid down by government authorities. Several standards organizations like the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) regularly review and improve regulations related to the optimum operation of installations using hydrogen piping.
Dangers associated with the use of hydrogen
The refining industry comes across a number of problems related to the dangers of hydrogen.
The most obvious danger is from the threat of explosion due to the action on hydrogen gas in the presence of an ignition-supporting gas like oxygen. Appropriate measures are taken to ensure that the piping is inert to the corrosive action of hydrogen and that the surrounding environment is free from gases like oxygen. Industrial and organizational regulations are followed to prevent such failures from taking hold. Material fatigue initiation is prevented by the deployment of methods such as bridge welding.
Precautions taken during and after installation
Piping connections
Care is taken to ensure that there are no threaded connections in the pipes in order to avoid the prospect of hydrogen gas leaking from the pipes and forming an inflammable mixture with air. This is because hydrogen gas is known to escape through extremely small openings. Couplings in the pipes are securely welded together
The use of flange couplings is avoided because of the added danger of leaking. In places where it is necessary to have flanges, gaskets of appropriate quality are made use in order to make for gas-tight connections. The quality of the valves is ensured to be high enough so as to ensure tight shutoff and control. Engineering plants often call for particular brands to be used in preference to others.
Surrounding environment
The surrounding is made inert either by evacuation or by the introduction of an inert gas like nitrogen in the surroundings. Appropriate means of ventilation are also ensured in cases of failure to halt the process of an explosive mixture being formed with oxygen from the air.
Safety suits
All workers around the hydrogen piping installation are required to have adequate fire-resistant suits for their protection. These include safety masks, gloves and boots.