The project involves the release, and real time measurement, of helium in twelve real, lived-in domestic properties that will be selected to be closely representative of UK housing stock. The experimental data gathered will help the gas industry better understand the movement of a buoyant gas within a variety of domestic scenarios, as well as validating existing mathematical models and industry recommendations being made by current research. The recommendations that the project aims to validate focus on the safe location of meters and appliances under hydrogen operation, and how different safety measures can be most effectively utilised to support these positions in early hydrogen demonstrations.
Benefits
N/A
Learnings
Outcomes
The outcomes of the project came in the form of two reports, all of which have now successfully completed their review by HSE. Comprehensive details of the outcomes of the project are contained within these reports and will be made publicly available in due course, once a communications plan for the full suite of hydrogen safety evidence involved in informing the HSE’s CFA of hydrogen heating has been agreed with the relevant stakeholders.
The outcomes of the project do support a shift in emphasis towards optimised and focused ventilation with the use of hydrogen domestic detectors. Ventilation should always be encouraged, particularly in small, poorly ventilated spaces containing a gas meter/appliance. However, the rarity/likelihood of these escapes occurring (acknowledging the Iron Mains Replacement Programme (IMRP), pre-conversion inspection of pipework, and the use of EFVs) should be borne in mind so that additional mitigation measures are not disproportionately applied. The project has supported the development and industry acceptance of domestic hydrogen conversion principles which have been consolidated by other projects for consideration in the HSE’s CFA.
Lessons Learnt
The project delivery method was designed in a way which implemented learning from previous end user hydrogen research projects delivered via NIA funding throughout the RIIO-2 period. This facilitated collaboration with early and regular stakeholder engagement, as well as enabling learnings to be shared by the project in real time to influence the testing/analysis of relevant research projects across the network-led End User Safety Evidence (EUSE) programme. Key lessons learnt for future projects are:
1) The creation of a specific stakeholder group, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), was important and ensured that stakeholder engagement was taken seriously throughout the project, creating multiple opportunities for feedback from individuals not involved in the day-to-day project delivery.
2) The price of helium is known to be volatile and so contractual protection against increases in helium price ensured that funding licensees were protected against unexpected price increases, enabling the project to be delivered to the original budget.
3) Regular progress meetings and visits to site ensured that the main project delivery partners were held accountable for delivering the test programme agreed with members of the TAC. This enabled testing across all twelve properties to be delivered on time.
4) Analysis and report writing are often the most time-consuming elements of a research project. Designing the project delivery methods to include an interim report ensured that final analysis and reporting was being developed from early on in the project. A formal review schedule was also agreed in advance with the main delivery partner to ensure that the final report could be thoroughly reviewed ahead of final submission.
5) Embedding the project within a relevant research programme helped to promote collaboration and sharing of learnings throughout the project delivery phase. This work influenced the ignition consequence test programme in NGN_NIA_344, the detector specification produced by NIA_NGN_421, the gas dispersion modelling in NIA_CAD0096, and informed standards updates via NIA_CAD0101. All these projects have been delivered under the EUSE programme governance.
The project has delivered effectively to its original scope and objectives.
