H2Tech - Q3 2021 - 45

MEASUREMENT AND INSTRUMENTATION
ergy source is not co-located with the H2
generation itself.
Although these systems are in their
early design stages, progress is being
made to discover operational efficiencies
and in scaling up for production-chain
manufacturing. Further process improvements
like increasing current density, improving
water purification and enhancing
safety and reliability are still necessary to
drive down the expense of these operations
and to maximize returns in these
large-scale H2
plants.
Digital twin technology has been instrumental
in facilitating the advancement
of this process in a safe and controlled
environment. By creating a virtual
replica of the production process, including
all equipment, instrumentation and
controls,
this
software enables operators
to simulate the process in real time
for training and optimization purposes.
These software-based, risk-free environments
are already helping manufacturers
design and test improvements to H2
electrolysis
projects.
Blended streams: Natural gas and H2
.
Another step forward lies in blending H2
into natural gas streams. By injecting H2
into natural gas networks, the amount of
natural gas being used can be offset without
losing any of its energy output. Early
studies show that up to 30% of a natural
gas stream can be blended with H2
without
significant modifications to downstream
equipment at the point of combustion. It
is one of the most promising opportunities
for decarbonization for the natural gas
industry. Still, it comes with a few key obstacles:
corrosion from H2
embrittlement,
H2 leaks through rubber parts due to the
small dimensions of the molecule, and
lower energy per volume delivered.
Cutting-edge, noninvasive corrosion
monitoring systems can be deployed along
pipelines to detect issues and alert operators
before corrosion becomes a more significant
problem. The latest corrosion detection
tools help ensure pipeline integrity
with sensing technologies designed with
the specific needs of H2
blended pipelines
in mind. Wireless monitoring and autonomous
capabilities will assist in identifying
leaks remotely, enhancing safety and environmental
protection.
Transmitter-style gas chromatographs
will be valuable in these applications,
as well. Utilizing advanced gas
composition analysis, these field-mountable
devices will continuously analyze
the components of the blend to ensure
that the correct ratio of H2
is being delivered.
to natural gas
from a single device. Innovative additions
to the design, such as rupture disks, keep
operations and customers safe. Digital
enhancements, like onboard diagnostics
and continuous monitoring software,
will help prevent unplanned shutdowns
and under- or over-dispensing, saving
producers money.
The new H2-fueled industry
will significantly benefit
from digital transformation,
especially as IIoT-powered
devices and practical,
scalable digital solutions
are on the market and ready
to be deployed.
High-pressure H2
dispensing applications.
Proper flow measurement solutions
will make a significant difference
in H2
tioned earlier, the high pressure of H2
fuel dispensing stations. As menapplications
can create safety issues. When
these dispensing applications are in the
public domain, safety regulations are
incredibly stringent-for good reason.
Pumping H2
fuel into a personal vehicle
should not be a risky maneuver.
Forward-thinking flowmetering
technology designed specifically for the
350-bar and 700-bar, high-pressure H2
dispensing applications is the answer.
High-pressure Coriolis flowmeters have
already been tested in the most demanding
oil and gas applications in the world,
and are some of the safest and most accurate
devices for high-pressure environments
on the market. This technology
has been used in the design of fit-for-purpose
technology to tackle high-pressure
H2
fuel dispensing at the pump.
The demand for H2
vehicles is growfuel
dispensing
ing. By 2040, the U.S. alone is expected
to have around 10,000 H2
stations. The industry requires leadingedge
measurement solutions that can
handle changing pressures at high levels
without compromising safety or accuracy.
Fortunately, these instruments are
available today. These compact Coriolis
flowmeters provide a direct inline measurement
of mass flow and temperature
A digital ecosystem to accelerate
adoption. Data analytics and software
technologies will be crucial to making
H2
fuel more affordable and accessible.
Producers benefit from computational
power that helps them accurately predict
dispensing levels to mitigate maintenance
costs and better manage operational
efficiencies.
Connected devices in a full-scale digital
ecosystem are becoming the standard
across the energy industry. Operators
with integrated systems and state-ofthe-art
analytics, modeling and simulation
tools have crucial insight into their
processes, which drives better decisionmaking
and leads to operational improvements.
The new H2
-fueled industry
will significantly benefit from digital
transformation, especially as IIoT-powered
devices and practical, scalable digital
solutions are on the market and ready
to be deployed.
Scalable approach to a renewable
future. H2
is poised to transform the energy
infrastructure. Although the transition
will not happen all at once, the tools
and technologies are available today to
take a scalable approach to embracing
H2
that will reduce risk during the transition
to a more sustainable future. The
challenge will be selecting the right tools
and processes to generate early successes
while remaining flexible enough to adapt
as technology advances over time.
BRANDON BROMBEREK is Vice
President of oil and gas for the
measurement solutions group at
Emerson's Automation Solutions
business. His focus is on applying
Emerson's technology portfolio to
help customers enhance
production, reduce costs and decrease environmental
impact. His present interests lie in supporting the
industry as it transitions to a more sustainable future
through programs focused on areas such hydrogen,
carbon capture and emissions management. Mr.
Bromberek holds a BS degree in mechanical
engineering from Purdue University in Indiana, U.S.
and an MS degree in management for the oil and gas
industry from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland.
H2Tech | Q3 2021 45
H2Tech - Q3 2021

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