At present, more than 10 natural gas hydrogen blending projects have been deployed in the UK, and public research on hydrogen-doped natural gas has been conducted. The first release of the "PAS 4444: 2020 Hydrogen Gas Appliance Guide" will help to achieve the conversion of British residents' cooking and heating from natural gas to hydrogen, supporting the UK's ambitious net zero emissions goal. On May 15th, the British National Standards Agency BSI issued "PAS 4444: Guide to Hydrogen Gas Appliances 2020". This standard is the first quickly-tracked standardized document for its terminal application of hydrogen, called the "publicly available specification", which can provide guidance for the development and construction of hydrogen gas appliances. These gas appliances are either designed specifically for the use of hydrogen, or are designed to be used for subsequent conversion.
The use of natural gas in the UK accounts for 35% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, which means that if the UK is to achieve a net zero emission target of 2050, it must decarbonize the natural gas pipeline network. This is the first time natural gas has entered the country more than 60 years ago. The second revolution since the British family. This concerns the transformation of the country's 284,000-kilometre natural gas pipeline network from methane-based natural gas to a zero-carbon alternative. The five natural gas network operators in the UK are under tremendous pressure. Currently, more than 10 natural gas hydrogen blending projects in the UK have been deployed. The recently disclosed H100File project is intended to create a 100% pure hydrogen pipe network system experiment.
PAS 4444: What is involved in 2020?
The British Ministry of Commerce, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has established a Hy4Heat research and innovation program to explore the transition from natural gas to hydrogen for cooking and heating. The plan aims to determine whether residential and commercial buildings and gas appliances can safely and conveniently use zero carbon hydrogen technology, which will help the British government decide whether to enter the community review stage.
PAS 4444: 2020 was mainly written to support the plan, but it is also possible to build a foundation for large-scale standardization of hydrogen fuel equipment by providing manufacturers with principles regarding the safety and functionality of hydrogen fuel and hydrogen/natural gas dual fuel. This standard also applies to modified gas appliances, including: boilers, cookers and stoves.
Who is PAS 4444: 2020 for?
Hydrogen gas appliance manufacturers within the scope of "Gas Appliance Regulations"
Manufacturers of gas appliances aiming to switch to using hydrogen
Public institutions and other electrical testing laboratories
Why use PAS 4444: 2020?
This document covers the functional specifications of the device, including specific recommendations for safety demonstrations, including applying pressure to the device in the worst case to exceed the pressure that may be encountered in normal use.
The document also covers the setting of the limit (upper and lower) hydrogen supply pressure and limit voltage, and discusses the possible arrangement of the application accessories and equipment in the hydrogen fuel equipment.
PAS also covers the testing of delayed ignition and accidental ignition of accumulated gas (leakage from the gas circuit) in the appliance and/or its flue. Including the manufacturer's installation instructions and maintenance requirements for such equipment (including flue).
Note: PAS 4444: 2020 is intended to be used as a supplement to existing standards. Unless otherwise stated, it is generally assumed that any default performance requirements (eg, noise or pressure levels) are consistent with equivalent household gas appliances.