OPTHYCS: Optic fibre-based hydrogen leak control systems

Project description

The aim of the Green2TSO-OPTHYCS project is to develop new sensor technologies which will lead to an increase in the safety level of hydrogen applications, from production to storage and distribution, both in new infrastructure, working with pure hydrogen and in natural gas repurposed installations and pipelines, and thereby contributing to a safe and economically viable implementation of hydrogen production, transport, and storage processes.

The end goal of OPHTYCS is to increase both the safety and cost-effectiveness of operations with both pure hydrogen and hydrogen blended with natural gas, through the development of continuous leak detectors based on optic fibre sensor technologies, both in remote and on-site locations. These newly developed sensors will be adaptable to existing facilities and new infrastructure, and analyse and classify leak types and sources according to risk, location, leak impact, probability of severity and predictability through continuous predictive maintenance. This sensor technology will be tested in several use cases, both with pure hydrogen and blended with natural gas, and the results obtained will be used to align solutions to safety, environmental and cost-effectiveness considerations.

The OPHTYCS project is structured around 3 conceptual areas:

A) Analysis of technology pillars and definition of new sensor technology by defining hydrogen sensor materials, data acquisition systems and interrogation systems and software solution for interpretation of results.

B) Validation of key use cases, demonstrating the capabilities and reliability of the new technologies tested in controlled situations, including gas networks, HRS, CMS and existing wells.

C) Aspects of the technologies derived from the use cases, including assessment of safety and environmental risks and the regulatory framework, and a study of scalability and cost-effectiveness.