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| Reference Number | NIA_WWU_02_49 | |
| Title | Hydrogen Blending in LPG Feasibility Study | |
| Status | Started | |
| Energy Categories | Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal (Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 50%; Hydrogen and Fuel Cells (Hydrogen, Hydrogen transport and distribution) 50%; |
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| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given Wales and West Utilities |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 January 2024 | |
| End Date | 31 October 2024 | |
| Duration | ENA months | |
| Total Grant Value | £293,033 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Energy | |
| Region | Wales | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , Wales and West Utilities (99.999%) |
| Other Investigator | Project Contact , Northern Gas Network (NGN) North East (0.001%) |
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| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , Wales and West Utilities (0.000%) Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks (0.000%) |
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| Web Site | https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_WWU_02_49 |
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| Objectives | This project seeks investigate the feasibility of creating a hydrogen-LPG blend validating that homogenous mixing can occur without stratification occurring within the network, with the intention of the blend being used by consumers as a step forward to lowering carbon emissions.This spend will fund the delivery of two work packages. Work package one will be delivered by Frazer-Nash Consultancy and will focus on a technical analysis of the feasibility of blending hydrogen with LPG. This work package will encompass a blend stability study, a materials suitability assessment and the development of a test plan, consolidated into a final report of Frazer-Nash"s findings.The second work package will be delivered by Frontier Economics and will focus on a regulatory analysis of the issues and barriers associated with blending different volumes of hydrogen into a below 7Bar LPG network, as well as identifying potential solutions. This work package will see Frontier Economics carry out scoping and stakeholder engagement exercises, the findings of which will be consolidated into a final report.Frazer Nash"s Data Measurement and Quality StatementFrazer-Nash"s ISO 9001:2015 accredited Quality Management System (QMS) assures that the products and services they provide to their clients fulfil their expectations and business objectives. As a consultancy they are adept at tailoring their approach to comply with the requirements of their clients" own specific quality standards and other sector schemes, as required by the markets in which they operate. Their system is designed to be effective, economical, scalable, and flexible, and to provide objective evidence that their delivery is fit for purpose. The QMS is an essential part of their ability to work in industries where the consequences of errors or non-conformances are serious.Their QMS requires an individual quality plan to be completed for each project under contract. This plan is an internal document that is a single reference source for: the people, processes and tools which will be used in executing the work; the quality procedures to be followed; the project controls used and the deliverables that will be produced.Their quality system also requires that each project has a nominated project auditor; providing an independent reviewer to deliver a balanced assessment of the project objectives, including satisfying the client"s requirements, combined with a review of the technical and commercial risks across the complete project. Graham Hawkes will act as auditor. Graham is the engineering manager for Frazer-Nash"s Energy Technology group, an IMechE fellow and a European Engineer with a specialty in unsteady flow, heat transfer and fluid mechanics. He has significant experience in leading research and innovation projects across a wide range of industries and a track record of successful management of complex projects. The project will receive formal project audits, with the project manager and auditor meeting to discuss the project and agree that the project risks are controlled.The deliverables will be recorded in the project"s Quality Plan, which will also appoint a suitably qualified and experienced independent verifier and an independent approver for both the model and report. Each deliverable will be subject to a "Deliverable Verification and Approval Record" (DVAR), which will record the agreement between author, verifier and approver that the deliverable is fit for purpose. These measures,in addition to a formal project audit, will ensure that an objective record of project quality is maintained throughout delivery.Frazer-Nash have identified where they will require data from WWU in the methodology section of the proposal, this will be reiterated during the project kick off meeting with WWU and any risks associated with supply of this data will be discussed and mitigations agreed.Frazer-Nash will employ their standard data management system for received data from WWU and keep a record of it within their electronic project folder. They can issue this list of received data as an appendix within the final report and re-issue that back collated in a zip file if required. All processed data will be clearly labelled and issued with the final report. All data processing will go through their verification processes, carried out by an independent member of staff. All assumptions will be made explicit in the final reports and data sources will be referenced.In their Literature Reviews, they will undertake a Quality Assessment (QA) on the long-list of information sources, before they down-select to a short-list for detailed consideration.The QA will consider if the:Research is clear and justifiedDocument is appropriately referencedMethods employed by the research are appropriateDocument has been peer reviewed or independently verifiedConclusions are consistent with the resultsAuthor and publishing organisation have a track record in the technical area.Frazer-Nash will restrict access to the project file within their systems so that data is only available to the project team. They do not expect to deal with any personally identifiable information within this project. If this becomes the case they will carry out a risk assessment and put relevant mitigations in place to manage the data properly.Frontier Economics" Data Quality StatementAll data and information used in this project will be subject to Frontier Economics" standard quality assurance (QA) review process to ensure that project outputs are accurate to the best of their knowledge. At a high-level, their review process includes answering the following key questions:Validation is the analysis a suitable representation of the world?;Verification: have all calculations included in the analysis been implemented correctly?;Data and assumptions: are the inputs to the analysis appropriate? We will ensure that sources of data and information are appropriately documented.Data and information collected as part of this project will be stored on Frontier Economics" internal systems ensuring backup and future access. Frontier Economic" Measurement Quality StatementThe project will be subject to Frontier Economics" internal Quality Management System. Their internal Quality Management System is consistent with best practice quality assurance principles. For this project, all outputs and draft reports would be read, discussed, tested and challenged internally before being delivered, to ensure the clarity, accuracy and relevance of the material presented. The team structure is such that there is clear accountability for the quality of the work which rests with the Project Manager in the first instance and ultimately with the Project Director. While this project will involve limited quantitative analysis, for all quantitative analysis undertaken on the project, Frontier Economics will follow their standard QA review process. All project outputs will be stored on their internal systems ensuring backup and version management.The project is rated low in the common assessment framework detailed in the ENIP document after assessing the total project value, the progression through the TRL levels, the number of project delivery partners and the high level of data assumptions. No additional peer review is required for this project. Work package one will see Frazer Nash deliver the following outputs:Blend Stability Study - a technical analysis to understand the mechanisms, consequences and likelihood of stratification of hydrogen when blended with LPG within existing LPG distribution networks (blend ratios of 5%, 10% and 20% hydrogen by volume).Materials Suitability Literature Review - development of a list of materials to be considered in collaboration with WWU and other stakeholders, followed by a literature review of the current understanding of chemically driven degradation mechanisms for the identified materials in hydrogen and LPG environments. A gap analysis will be conducted to identify relevant gaps in material performance data.Test Plan Development - Building on the literature review, Frazer Nash will develop appropriate testing protocols for the identified test programme.Final Reports - Frazer Nash will produce two final reports; one full report for WWU including details of the engineering analysis, and a public-facing version of this report.Work package two will see Frontier Economics deliver the following outputs:Scoping - Confirmation of the relevant stakeholders to engage, including other gas transporters with responsibility for independent LPG networks, Shipper and Suppliers, Xoserve, Metering Equipment Managers, and Policymakers (OFGEM).Stakeholder Engagement - Conducting a series of in-depth 1:1 or small group meetings that will identify and discuss in detail the barriers and issues associated with blending different volumes of hydrogen into a below 7Bar LPG network. Frazer Nash will present to these stakeholders an initial set of potential solutions and identify where these are feasible and practical, considering additional solutions identified by the stakeholders.Consolidation - Review of the inputs received from stakeholders and noting areas where there is and is not consensus. To produce two reports; the first summarising the technical viability of blending hydrogen at different ratios with LPG to validate that homogenous mixing can occur without stratification occurring within the network, with the intention of the blend being used by consumers as a step forward to lowering carbon emissions. The objective of the second report is to understand and detail the regulatory barriers and issues with blending different volumes of hydrogen into a below 7Bar LPG network, as well as identifying potential solutions. | |
| Abstract | Following on from the feasibility LPG to Hydrogen Village (NIA_WWU_2_11) study by WWU, one scenario that ranked highly regards the potential to lower carbon emissions was hydrogen blending with Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). This project would investigate the feasibility of creating a hydrogen-LPG blend and validating that homogenous mixing can occur without stratification occurring within the network, with the intention of the blend being used by consumers as a step forward to lowering carbon emissions. The project seeks to demonstrate hydrogen- LPG blending into a rural below 7Bar network using established processes. The solution would be applicable to a wide range of rural areas that are currently supplied by isolated networks operated by a range of GDNs. | |
| Data | No related datasets |
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| Projects | No related projects |
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| Publications | No related publications |
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| Added to Database | 02/10/24 | |
