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Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

(OP)
We are considering using SS tubing for high pressure  Hydrogen underground.  Will corrosion protection be needed?
Does anyone have experience with this application?
Thanks,
TRW

RE: Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

Need  a  lot  more  input  -


      a)  what  is  the  pressure   ?  diameter  ????

      b)  what  is  the  distance    ?

      c)  what  type  of  soil -

           dry  /  wet  /  what  chemistry and

                       electrolytes  ??????????????

      d)   any  big  power lines  near   ??????????
              will  this  be  part of a  ground
               (earth ) sustem picking up
               destructive  stray  currents  ???????

      e)  is operation  steady  state  after reaching

           equilibrium   or  does  pressure  fluctuate ???????????????????????????????????????????
               IE   filling  hydrogen vehicles  ?
 

RE: Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

I would advise that CP be added. I have seen a number of cases where CP was not added and the pipe quickly became swiss cheese at costs of many millions to rectify.
 

RE: Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

RE: Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

While I guess the issue of external corrosion needs to be considered, the OP wants to first know if 304 is affected by high pressure hydrogen, assuming its dry and at room temperature, I don't think it is embrittled which is the only corrosion issue.

RE: Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

The 304 SS will handle the hydrogen; it will be corroded from the out side due to soil and electrolytes contained therein.

RE: Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

there are a lot of buried water lines in Japan that are 316. None are 304.   
Internal is no issue, even if there is water.
External could be a nightmare, considering the risk if there is a leak.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Plymouth Tube

RE: Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

seems a bit worrying that you'd be burying HP hydrogen tubing without some mechanical barrier to protect it from digs, soil corrosion, etc.

 

RE: Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

Over 30 years ago, miles of 304 SS pipe to be placed in high pressure hydrogen service was installed at a US Gov facility without protection. It was swiss cheese in less than a year at taxpayer expense of nearly 30 million dollars for replacement - almost sounds like real money!  

RE: Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

Everyone......

There are guidelines for the design and installation of above and underground hydrogen piping systems. New standards are also in development.

Consider NFPA 55 and the rules contained in ASME B31.3

http://www.hydrogenandfuelcellsafety.info/archives/2006/may/febMinutes_nfpa.pdf

The Compressed Gas Association (CGA) also publishes recommended guidelines for hydrogen systems.

http://www.techstreet.com/cgi-bin/detail?product_id=1154166

-MJC
 

   

RE: Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

The SS - 316 buried pipes in Japan, have CP?

RE: Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

Ed,

The SS - 316 buried pipes in Japan, have CP?

Regards

RE: Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

No CP, they don't.  But the locations that I have seen reports on are 'good' soil.  Not wet, not coastal, not high organics.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Plymouth Tube

RE: Underground SS 304 or 316 tubing?

In the late 1950's, the US Gov published its findings regarding the use of 304 SS and 316 SS in underground service without Cathodic Protection. Type 304 was ruled out for such use but type 316 was not (pitting corrosion occurred in only one soil type tested). As a result of that publication, the Utility for which I worked initiated a pilot program to install 316 risers to the gas meters at private homes. In certain soils where Colorado River water was used for irrigation and a suitable crevice was formed, pitting corrosion resuted in leakage. The estimated cost to replace was 5 million USD in 1979.       

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