Exploring High-Strength Steel Performance for Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Storage and Transport

Abstract

In the context of the climate crisis, new solutions and approaches such as a green hydrogen economy are proposed. The achieve such a vision, several points have to be addressed among which is the reliability of hydrogen storage and transport infrastructures. This research investigates the susceptibility of steel, especially the complex phased steel when exposed to hydrogen. In this study, hydrogen effects on steel are described as well as techniques to assess these impacts. The methodology employed in this study is focused on thermal desorption spectroscopy to assess the impact of surrounding conditions on the quantity of hydrogen that penetrates the studied material. The data for this research was collected in the laboratory and using software provided by the IEHK Institute at RWTH Aachen University in Germany. The main findings of this research reveal that current density directly linked to the hydrogen concentration, the exposure time, the pressure, and the temperature are important factors that influence the quantity of absorbed hydrogen in metallic structures. Our analysis demonstrates that an increase in these parameters leads to an increase in hydrogen absorption. Interpreting the results, it becomes evident that considerations about the acceptable level of hydrogen absorbed by a material in real-life applications such as in deep ocean water or under rainfall conditions have to be studied and clearly defined. In light of the existing literature, our results align with previous studies, corroborating the significance of the assessment of hydrogen’s impact on metals and reinforcing the validity of our findings. In conclusion, this research contributes to the growing body of knowledge surrounding the implementation of a green hydrogen economy in the context of the climate crisis. Our research offers valuable contributions to the understanding of hydrogen-material interactions and their implications for the development of reliable and safe hydrogen storage and transport infrastructures in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions amid the climate crisis.