Comparative Analysis of Linepack Impact in Hydrogen and Natural Gas Networks under Dynamic Operating Conditions

Abstract

Linepack is a critical buffer in gas networks, providing short-term storage and operational flexibility. This paper presents a comparative dynamic analysis of the linepack impact in hydrogen (H2) and natural gas (CH4) networks under compressor contingency conditions. A three-day dynamic simulation is conducted for a CH4 network and a H2 network integrated with a power system. Two cases are investigated: Case 1 with identical and Case 2 with different pipe inner diameters in CH4 and H2 networks. The results in both cases show that H2 exhibits faster transient recovery after the compressor contingency, although its linepack is less than that of CH4. On the other hand, depending on the selected pipe diameter, pressure losses in the two networks can differ significantly. With identical pipe diameters, H2 exhibits lower pressure drop than CH4, and its demand therefore experiences less curtailment. However, when the H2 pipe diameter is reduced, the pressure drop across the H2 pipes increases and the curtailed load becomes higher than in the CH4 network. These results can be used by gas TSOs in designing and operating their grid more efficiently.