Electricity from renewable sources is subject to strong fluctuations and is difficult to store, requiring numerous workarounds, including the use of green power to create hydrogen, which is transported and used via the natural gas network. This presents challenges to the infrastructure of the gas network and measurement technology, as SICK has discovered as a partner in the energy revolution.

The power-to-gas concept of using renewable electricity sources to produce hydrogen via electrolysis plays a central role in responding to climate change, which is why it is currently undergoing extensive research. In some regions up to 10% hydrogen is currently being fed into natural gas networks. Scientists in Europe and Asia are investigating whether it would be possible in the future to add up to 20% hydrogen to the natural gas.

The added hydrogen affects the properties of the natural gas, changing its density, viscosity, explosivity, flow rate and sound propagation speed. Such property changes pose new challenges for the pipes, compressors, seals, pipelines, valves and measurement technology, which in turn affects the risk of leaks and explosions, and the determination of the calorific value. With this is in mind, gas network operators and gas suppliers are wondering what impact this will have on the performance of gas flow meters.

“In conjunction with experts at the DNV SE classification organization, we tested the effect of the added hydrogen on the ultrasonic technology of our devices. The existing devices already measure hydrogenSource: SICK containing natural gas as reliably and stably as natural gas without hydrogen,” said strategic product manager Daniel Heinig. “The device can compensate for any measurement uncertainty — even in mixtures containing up to 10% hydrogen.”

SICK even has a solution for a higher hydrogen content of up to 30% in the form of a new ultrasonic probe that can be optionally installed in the FLOWSIC600-XT product family. This probe is suitable for a wide range of applications and can measure very reliably and precisely, as confirmed in an independent public test performed by industry partners and in collaboration with the DNV SE. Already installed FLOWSIC devices can also be retrofitted with the new probe.

Building on the FLOWSIC600-XT, SICK offers a turnkey gas flow measurement solution called FLOWSKID and a turnkey flow metering solution called FLOWRUN, where all aspects from the initial project management, installation and servicing after commissioning have been tailored to one another.