Analysis of compression and transport of the methane/hydrogen mixture in existing natural gas pipelines

Developing an economy based on a reduction in the use of fossil fuels in power generation and transport leads to an increased interest in hydrogen as the energy carrier of the future. Pipeline transmission appears to be the most economical means of transporting large quantities of hydrogen over great distances. However, before hydrogen can be widely used, a new network of pipelines will have to be constructed to ensure its transport. An alternative to the rather costly investment in the new infrastructure could be a utilization of the existing network of gas pipelines by adding hydrogen to natural gas and transporting the mixture. The new solution should be analysed regarding issues related to compression and the transport process itself, but consideration should also be given to the problem of the consequences of a gas pipeline failure. The paper presents the results of a comprehensive analysis of the process of compression and pipeline transport of the natural gas/hydrogen mixture with safety issues.