As part of the planned conversion of the energy supply to regenerative energy sources, hydrogen plays a decisive role as an energy source. From an ecological and economical point of view, the transport of large quantities of hydrogen gas only makes sense by means of pipelines. As part of the research programme Zwanzig20 of the BMBF, studies were carried out concerning safety aspects of operating hydrogen-carrying high-pressure gas transmission pipelines.

The work focussed on developing a Pipeline Integrity Management System (PIMS) adapted to hydrogen-rich gases, taking into account possible forms of hydrogen-induced damage to the pipeline materials installed in the existing structure with typical previous damage under normal operating conditions.

The findings extend the PIMS used by the operators by hydrogen related aspects and enable condition statements concerning the degree of utilisation of the gas transmission pipelines depending on the operation mode with hydrogen. Condition-describing models and algorithms provide information about the current and future condition of the gas transmission pipelines.

In the following article the basic technical aspects and approaches are briefly presented and the results of an exemplary evaluation of a hydrogen-carrying high-pressure gas transmission pipeline are explained.