Hydrogen transportation through pipelines represents a critical challenge, primarily due to hydrogen-induced embrittlement of steel materials. Beyond material integrity concerns, flow assurance issues also arise from the intrinsic variability of renewable-based hydrogen production and the non-uniform consumption patterns. These factors significantly complicate pipeline sizing and the definition of reliable operational conditions. Furthermore, the potential use of line-packing storage—enabled by the large geometric volume of pipelines—introduces additional considerations, particularly related to material fatigue under cyclic pressure variations.
This study aims to illustrate the set of analyses required to support the design of a hydrogen pipeline network under such dynamic conditions. The evaluation also includes the role of line packing as a dynamic storage strategy. The aim is to assess the sensitivity of key process parameters on pipeline sizing and operational philosophy and explores how these analyses can inform potential strategies—such as flow regulation and network segmentation—to enhance overall flow assurance in future hydrogen infrastructure.