Can Welded tube use for Hydrogen services? 1

[cktayum]

My sppliers supplied me a batch of Welded tube (even though I specified Seamless tube), which i plan to use for hydrogen services. By normal practise, seamless tube is preffered. I tried to find is there any specification specified that only seamless tube to be use in hydrogen services?

 

[drywall]

Just a short question: If you specified seamless tube you surely had a sound reason for so doing. That being the case, why would you accept welded tube? Wouldn't it be sensible to make them take it back?

 

[cktayum]

I didn't accept it... yet. But FYI, I am in China now. I think this answered your question.

What I need is a technical answer, I have enough problem on non technical one, please and thanks

 

[racookpe1978]

Doesn't matter. If your supplier didn't provide you the material you require, your supplier isn't going to be the one with a burst plant when the welded hydrogen pipe blows up later. YOU (your plant!) is what will be damaged, regardless of whether it is in China, India, Mongolia or Manhattan.

You (Your Chinese customer) needs the right pipe for their piping, and should not pay for the wrong pipe. Morally, ethically accepting the wrong material just for expediancy and convenience cannot be justified.

 

[JohnBreen]

cktayum

When you post a question like this the first question that must be asked is WHAT CODE OR STANDARD HAS THE OWNER MANDATED FOR DESIGN.

It would also obviously be helpful to know in what jurisdiction this piping system will be placed into service.

Is writing the specification a function of the design responsibility? Has the owner "signed-off" approval of the specification? Specifications do not have the force of law. However, procurement contracts should always be enforced. If you allow variances from the owner's specification you have set a legal precedent for legal chalanges to the "letter of the specification". You have created a "loop-hole" (some "wiggle room" for ALL the suppliers.

Are you familiar with ASME B31.12, Hydrogen Piping and Pipelines? I do not think any B31.1 Code prohibits seam welded pipe from use in hydrogen service. However, that is not really the issue here. The issue is compliance with the QA program. You DO have a QA program that covers procurement don't you?

So what it boils down to is quality assurance and if you allow ANY variance from the owner's specification (a failure in the QA intention) then where do you STOP allowing variances from the owner's specification.

Send it back.

Regards, John.

 

[moltenmetal]

We use welded seam austenitic stainless steel tubing in hydrogen services very frequently.

Have a look at RathGibson's website. They have a nice paper on the advantages and disadvantages of welded, welded and drawn and seamless tube products. The perception that seamless is just plain "better" in every way is both inaccurate and widespread.

 

[racookpe1978]

Then, to ask a somewhat related question about H2 service and losses in welded/seamless/conventional piping, I had heard that conventional cross-country piping cannot be used for the (theorectical) "hydrogen economy" because of (1) transmission losses in the pipe and (2) excessive pumping power required for the very thin gas.

True?