The issue with hydrogen is that is diffuses and leaks straight trough metal pipes, and makes the metal brittle in the process. But... that property could also be used to create super dense storage, by intentionally diffusing it into something like aluminium
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Plastic/FRC pipes solve the leakage problem. They are also salt water resistant. Soft steel NG distribution pipes have low leak rates as well. Converting hard steel NG transmission pipes is possible by lining them in plastic. In any near future, H2 only new pipes would be built. H2 is more valuable when it is pure because it has higher efficiency electric conversion than NG, as well as being an ingredient to several important chemicals.
That's conveniently ignoring that the type of plastic or rfc you need are not quite cheap or quick to make
Spoolable FRP pipes up to 4" in diameter can fit on a truck. Rated for 200bar. Pre covid, this was quoted as $50k/km as full deployment cost with 10s of km per day buildout rate. Spoolable pipe that can fit on ships has no diameter limit.
I don't know details of manufacturing process, but spools, plastic pipe extrusion, and fiber reinforcement should be highly automatable.
Not every random frp is suitable, hydrogen will fit trough most plastics and fibres. So... the cheapest crap won't Just do the trick
PE pipes used for NG seem "good enough" https://www.pe100plus.com/PPCA/HYDROGEN-TRANSPORT-IN-POLYMER-PIPES-FOR-NATURAL-GAS-DISTRIBUTION-TEN-YEARS-OF-EXPERIENCE-p1737.html
PTFE is known to be better. Fiber reinforcement is mostly an outside layer to increase pressure resistance. Putting PE or PTFE inside existing steel pipes would also work.
You should read what you linked. It says:
- the hydrogen leaks more than natural gas
- this type of plastic degrades even when not in use
- they have not looked into the issue of hydrogen diffusing out trough the plastic
I wouldn't say a pipe underground that you have to dig up every year to check if it's not falling apart on it's own is a great option
PTFE and chemicals used in its production are some of the best-known and widely applied PFAS, which are persistent organic pollutants. PTFE occupies more than half of all fluoropolymer production, followed by polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF).