HYSTORY – Hydrogen production, transport and storage

Mn austenitic stainless and non-stainless steels for hydrogen applications: production, transport and storage.

The positioning of the novel developed grades versus current steel solutions (austenitic stainless 316L and ferritic line pipe grade) will be assessed in terms of hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility and steel manufacturing competitiveness. In addition, key performance indicators defined for each studied property and weight algorithm will assist the optimization of the metallurgies and the alloys comparison.

For each specific market, dedicated targets have been defined to hasten the applicability of those new steel concepts: 

1. Hydrogen production:

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser. To achieve a capital cost of 500€/kW it is targeted to keep same formability and PEM applicability as the 316L steel and obtain a gain of 20% on the strength. 

2. Hydrogen storage and transport: liquid hydrogen transport.

316L steels show very important sensitivity to hydrogen embrittlement at temperatures between -50°C and -100°C. For cryogenic applications it is therefore targeted an air impact toughness at low temperature at minimum equal to the 316L and an increase by 30% of the hydrogen embrittlement resistance between -50 and -100°C. 

3. Hydrogen storage and transport: compressed hydrogen.

In order to use the new concepts on valves and fittings it is targeted to obtain at minimum the same good formability and processability as for the 316L and an improved Hydrogen Assisted Fatigue Crack Growth by a factor X10. 

It is important to note that no unique metallurgical solution for the three markets is expected as outcome of the HYSTORY project. On the contrary, adapted metallurgical solutions for each application as function of the application demands is targeted, meaning Mn austenitic stainless and non-stainless metallurgical concepts. 

HYSTORY is aligned with Europe’s Green Deal and its policies on sustainability and efficient use of resources. The project will address the EU Hydrogen Strategy as a fundamental way to “boost clean hydrogen production in Europe, as hydrogen can be used as a feedstock, a fuel or an energy carrier and storage, and has many possible applications which would reduce greenhouse gas emission across industry, transport, power and building sectors”.  

The French Corrosion Institute is the coordinator of the HYSTORY project. On top of this, it is the main laboratory to assess the material compatibility of the new steels for the different hydrogen applications.

Participants

Institut de la Corrosion (France) a.k.a. French Corrosion Institute, is a European leader in the field of corrosion, it is among the largest laboratories in the field of corrosion and corrosion protection of materials in Europe. The Corrosion Institute gives support to most industrial sectors concerned by corrosion: the transportation industry (marine, land, air), building and infrastructures, military and naval construction, energy, oil & gas industries, nuclear and chemical industries, food industry, electronics…	FUNDACION IDONIAL (Spain) is private, independent, non-profit, multisectorial technology centre and contributes to the promotion and development of the business fabric in its areas of technological specialization. IDONIAL offers integral tailored solutions in the entire value chain, related to materials, advanced manufacturing and digital industry through technology development and innovation.
SIDENOR INVESTIGACION Y DESARROLLOSA (Spain) is the research and development center of SIDENOR, one of the European leaders in special steel long products. With an installed capacity of 1 million tons per year, it produces straight bars (round and flat), bar in coil and wire from a range of 5.5 to 220 mm diameter of high-quality engineering steel grades. The production route comprises EAF-LF-VD-CC (billet and bloom, in square and round formats). It has 5 rolling mills, heat treatment and finishing facilities. The main SIDENOR markets are automotive and energy.	VYSOKA SKOLA CHEMICKO-TECHNOLOGICKA V PRAZE (Czech Republic) is a natural centre of first-rate study and research in the area of chemistry in Czechia. It is one of the largest educational and research institutions in Central Europe focused on technical chemistry, chemical and biochemical technologies, material and chemical engineering, food chemistry, and environmental studies. According to the prestigious Times Higher Education rankings, UCT ranks among 4% of the best universities in the world.
IFP Energies nouvelles (France) is a national institute for research and training in energy, transport and the environment. Its teams innovate for a low-carbon and sustainable world, from scientific concepts through to technological solutions. IFPEN focuses its efforts on bringing solutions to the challenges facing society and industry in terms of energy and the climate, to support the ecological transition. IFP School, its graduate engineering school, prepares future generations to take up these challenges.	UGITECH (France) is a subsidiary of Swiss Steel Group, a leading producer, processor and distributor of long products made from special steels. For more than 115 years, UGITECH has designed, developed, processed and marketed a wide range of long products in stainless steel and alloys (bars, wire rod and drawn wires).  UGITECH, with a workforce of 1,250 based in Ugine in Savoie at headquarters, is present in all user markets and offers sustainable solutions that meet the requirements of sectors such as energy (including nuclear), chemistry, pharmacy, medical, land, sea and air transport, defense, the food industry.

Results and publications

Coming soon

Learn more

 Website of the project: https://www.hystory.eu/

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The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the RFCS. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.