This state-of-the-art facility tests and validates materials and components for hydrogen, CO₂-rich, sour gas and PtX systems under high-pressure, high-temperature conditions to ensure safe performance.

Advanced validation services for energy infrastructure materials and components

The H2CCUS Integrity Centre is a specialised testing facility for evaluating the performance, durability, readiness and safety of materials and components used in conventional energy infrastructure, hydrogen, CCUS and other Power-to-X applications. Using advanced high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) autoclaves, gas mixing systems and custom test rigs, the facility simulates real-world operating conditions. This includes hydrogen embrittlement, sour gas corrosion and chemical compatibility. The facility supports both standardised and non-standardised testing to accelerate qualification, reduce failure risk and enable safe deployment of next-generation energy technologies.

Benefit: Accelerate validation and certification of energy components

The H2CCUS Integrity Centre serves manufacturers, system suppliers and operators in the Power-to-X, conventional energy and gas sectors. It is designed for companies developing or deploying components such as valves, pipelines, coatings, seals and structural materials that must withstand aggressive gas environments, high pressures and demanding thermal and mechanical conditions.

By simulating realistic service conditions, the facility helps to validate performance early in the design phase, document fitness for service and meet certification or regulatory requirements, even in areas where formal standards are still evolving. This reduces development time, lowers the risk of field failure and accelerates safe implementation of both next-generation technologies and conventional systems adapted for low-carbon energy use.

Which technical validation challenges does the facility address? 

  • Hydrogen embrittlement risk: Identifies susceptibility of materials and components to cracking and failure when exposed to hydrogen under high pressure and temperature.
  • Sour gas and CO₂ corrosion: Evaluates material degradation and coating performance in corrosive environments containing CO₂, H₂S, and other sour gases.
  • Non-standardised testing needs: Provides tailored validation for components and systems where formal industry standards are still evolving or absent.
  • Coating and barrier integrity: Assesses the effectiveness of protective coatings and barrier systems in preventing gas (e.g. hydrogen) permeation and chemical attack.
  • Component functional durability: Simulates real-world mechanical, thermal, and chemical stresses to test component lifespan and performance under operational conditions.
  • Certification and approval support: Generates reliable data to facilitate regulatory compliance, component qualification and risk reduction before field deployment.
materials testing
Materials testing

Technical specifications

High-ressure High-Temperature (HPHT) test system

  • Equipment: Two Hastelloy C-276 autoclaves with gas boosting and chemical injection systems
  • Capabilities:
    • Pressure: up to 350 bar
    • Temperature: up to 300 °C
    • Volume: 7.5 litres (each)
    • Flow simulation and stirring via rotating cage (100–3000 rpm)
    • Chemical injection rate: 0.01–10 ml/min
    • Gas boosting: CO₂ and N₂ up to 350 bar
    • In-situ electrochemical monitoring for real-time corrosion and reaction tracking

Static high-pressure hydrogen test system – Fracture mechanics

  • Equipment: Custom-built test rig to allow 100% hydrogen testing in stainless steel 316 autoclave
  • Capabilities:
    • Pressure: up to 500 bar 
    • Temperature: –20 °C to 400 °C 
    • Volume: 12 litres 
    • Test gases: N₂, H₂
    • Qualification testing according to ASME B31.12 
    • Gas boosting: CO₂ and N₂ up to 350 bar
    • Bolt-loaded compact specimens for fracture mechanics

Large-scale component testing

  • Equipment: Custom test setup for evaluating valves under hydrogen exposure, allowing customised, non-standardised or evolving test conditions
  • Capabilities:
    • Hydrogen charging of metallic components 
    • Functional testing with pressure cycling and actuation to simulate service conditions
    • Burst testing until leakage 
    • Direct performance comparison under nitrogen and hydrogen environments
    • Assessment of valve "fit for service" status 

Hydrogen permeability testing 

  • Equipment: High-precision test rig with upstream/downstream pressure transducers and continuous data logging
  • Capabilities:
    • Pressure: up to 200 bar 
    • Sample thickness: 1–5 mm
    • Small volume to enable safe high-pressure testing
    • Charge time and hydrogen diffusion rates
    • Evaluation of the effect of material type, thickness, and pressure on permeability
    • Assessment of the influence of coatings and barrier systems
    • Investigation of coating influence on H₂ diffusion through a coated pipeline

Electrolytic hydrogen charging

  • Equipment: Potentiostat-based hydrogen charging setup with SEM evaluation system
  • Capabilities:
    • Safe in-liquid hydrogen generation  
    • Compact tension (CT) samples sized according to gas pipe wall thickness 
    • Pre-cracking before hydrogen exposure 
    • Post-test crack propagation analysis via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Specialised HPHT CO₂ test system

  • Equipment: Dual Hastelloy C-276 autoclaves (reactor tanks) with calibrated gas mixing and mass flow control unit for gas analysis
  • Capabilities:
    • Pressure: up to 300 bar  
    • Temperature: up to 200 °C
    • Volume: 3 litres 
    • Gas mixture: H₂O, NO₂, SO₂, O₂, H₂S, H₂ in CO₂ 
    • Injection: Syringe pump and heated line evaporator
    • Output: Ports for gas and liquid sampling and analysis

Component test tig

  • Equipment: Modular rig for valve testing according to ISO 15848-1 and API 641
  • Capabilities:
    • Test gases: N₂, He, H₂ (optional)
    • Component nominal diameter and pressure rating:
      • DN 25 / PN 160 to DN 150 / PN 160
      • DN 250 / PN 25
    • Max component weight: 250 kg
    • Temperature range: 20 °C to 400 °C
    • Max torque: 150 Nm