The real-world laboratory was put into operation at the Technical Safety Test Site of the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) in Horstwalde, Brandenburg. About 150 participants attended the opening in early July.
The platform is receiving 3.8 million euros in funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, drawn from the federal government’s economic stimulus and crisis response package.
Expansion of the hydrogen core network as a starting point
According to BAM, the reason for the opening is the planned expansion of Germany’s hydrogen backbone network. By 2032, more than 9,000 kilometers of pipelines are to be built, a large portion of which will be created by converting existing natural gas pipelines. This infrastructure is then intended to become part of the European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB ) in the future.
However , to ensure safe operation, various technical questions still need to be answered —ranging from the suitability of existing materials to the behavior of pipes under varying operating conditions. ModuH2Pipe will now be used to investigate these questions.
The Real-World Laboratory for Hydrogen Networks. © Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM)
Test platform enables material and safety testing
This is because the test platform makes it possible to simulate significant pressure fluctuations and high flow rates. Pipelines are repeatedly subjected to pressures between 10 and 85 bar to simulate the startup and shutdown of the system. In addition, contaminants can be introduced to investigate potential aging and damage processes in materials as well as the functionality of components. Manufacturing, welding, and repair processes are also to be tested and validated.
For safety-critical applications, components such as pipes or fittings could be tested at pressures of up to 900 bar. In the event of a failure, the effects could be analyzed in detail to further develop protective measures and safety concepts.
Findings are incorporated into digital diagnostic tools
The data collected will be used in the development of digital diagnostic and decision-making tools, such as those for calculating remaining service life or optimizing maintenance cycles. Non-destructive testing methods would be tested and further developed under real-world conditions.
Dr. Kai Holtappels, spokesperson for H2Safety@BAM, explained that the test platform is intended to serve as a driver of innovation for the hydrogen economy. According to Holtappels, companies, grid operators, and research institutions will be able to test new materials, components, and maintenance concepts there under real-world conditions.
