Impact of Hydrogen-Enriched Natural Gas on the Accuracy of Odorant Measurements

Blending hydrogen with natural gas is emerging as a pivotal strategy in the transition to low-carbon energy systems. However, the exploitation of the natural gas infrastructure to distribute natural gas and hydrogen blends (and 100% hydrogen in the long-term) introduces several technical, economic,...

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Main Authors: Giorgio Ficco, Viviana Cigolotti, Gino Cortellessa, Giulia Monteleone, Marco Dell’Isola
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/14/4394
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author Giorgio Ficco
Viviana Cigolotti
Gino Cortellessa
Giulia Monteleone
Marco Dell’Isola
author_facet Giorgio Ficco
Viviana Cigolotti
Gino Cortellessa
Giulia Monteleone
Marco Dell’Isola
author_sort Giorgio Ficco
collection DOAJ
description Blending hydrogen with natural gas is emerging as a pivotal strategy in the transition to low-carbon energy systems. However, the exploitation of the natural gas infrastructure to distribute natural gas and hydrogen blends (and 100% hydrogen in the long-term) introduces several technical, economic, and safety issues. These latter are paramount, especially in urban distribution networks that supply residential buildings and dwellings, since the quality and safety of the living environment can also be significantly affected. In this scenario, the reliability of odorant concentration measurements according to the best practices currently in use for natural gas becomes crucial. This study is aimed at assessing the accuracy of odorant measurements at different concentration levels (i.e., low, medium, and high) in 100% methane, methane–hydrogen blend and 100% hydrogen. The obtained results show the tendency to overestimate the odorant concentration up to 2.3% in methane–hydrogen blends at medium and high concentrations of THT as well as the underestimation of −3.4% in 100% hydrogen at low concentration of TBM. These results are consistent with those of natural gas from the city distribution network with hydrogen content of 5% and 20%.
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series Sensors
spelling doaj-art-e90b2e5155b8454cb3a9018e605240f02025-08-20T02:47:06ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-07-012514439410.3390/s25144394Impact of Hydrogen-Enriched Natural Gas on the Accuracy of Odorant MeasurementsGiorgio Ficco0Viviana Cigolotti1Gino Cortellessa2Giulia Monteleone3Marco Dell’Isola4Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, ItalyDepartment of Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources, Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l’Energia e lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (ENEA), Research Center Casaccia, 00123 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, ItalyDepartment of Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources, Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l’Energia e lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (ENEA), Research Center Casaccia, 00123 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, ItalyBlending hydrogen with natural gas is emerging as a pivotal strategy in the transition to low-carbon energy systems. However, the exploitation of the natural gas infrastructure to distribute natural gas and hydrogen blends (and 100% hydrogen in the long-term) introduces several technical, economic, and safety issues. These latter are paramount, especially in urban distribution networks that supply residential buildings and dwellings, since the quality and safety of the living environment can also be significantly affected. In this scenario, the reliability of odorant concentration measurements according to the best practices currently in use for natural gas becomes crucial. This study is aimed at assessing the accuracy of odorant measurements at different concentration levels (i.e., low, medium, and high) in 100% methane, methane–hydrogen blend and 100% hydrogen. The obtained results show the tendency to overestimate the odorant concentration up to 2.3% in methane–hydrogen blends at medium and high concentrations of THT as well as the underestimation of −3.4% in 100% hydrogen at low concentration of TBM. These results are consistent with those of natural gas from the city distribution network with hydrogen content of 5% and 20%.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/14/4394hydrogen blendingodorizationmethaneodorant measurementodorant concentration
spellingShingle Giorgio Ficco
Viviana Cigolotti
Gino Cortellessa
Giulia Monteleone
Marco Dell’Isola
Impact of Hydrogen-Enriched Natural Gas on the Accuracy of Odorant Measurements
Sensors
hydrogen blending
odorization
methane
odorant measurement
odorant concentration
title Impact of Hydrogen-Enriched Natural Gas on the Accuracy of Odorant Measurements
title_full Impact of Hydrogen-Enriched Natural Gas on the Accuracy of Odorant Measurements
title_fullStr Impact of Hydrogen-Enriched Natural Gas on the Accuracy of Odorant Measurements
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Hydrogen-Enriched Natural Gas on the Accuracy of Odorant Measurements
title_short Impact of Hydrogen-Enriched Natural Gas on the Accuracy of Odorant Measurements
title_sort impact of hydrogen enriched natural gas on the accuracy of odorant measurements
topic hydrogen blending
odorization
methane
odorant measurement
odorant concentration
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/14/4394
work_keys_str_mv AT giorgioficco impactofhydrogenenrichednaturalgasontheaccuracyofodorantmeasurements
AT vivianacigolotti impactofhydrogenenrichednaturalgasontheaccuracyofodorantmeasurements
AT ginocortellessa impactofhydrogenenrichednaturalgasontheaccuracyofodorantmeasurements
AT giuliamonteleone impactofhydrogenenrichednaturalgasontheaccuracyofodorantmeasurements
AT marcodellisola impactofhydrogenenrichednaturalgasontheaccuracyofodorantmeasurements