Research status and development trends of hydrogen pipeline transportation based on knowledge mapping

Objective Hydrogen transportation is a key bottleneck hindering the development of the hydrogen energy industry. In the pursuit of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, pipeline transportation is the best way for long-distance hydrogen transportation, characterized by low cost, low energy consumption, and high efficiency.

Methods Using VOSviewer, a bibliometric mapping software, the analysis of key word clustering and co-occurrence was carried out on literature related to hydrogen pipeline transportation at home and abroad from 2005 to 2023. A review of the research status of hydrogen pipeline transportation was conducted, highlighting key countries and journals in the field, along with projections for future development trends.

Results In recent years, the number of papers published on hydrogen pipeline transportation has increased both domestically and internationally, with research largely driven by team collaboration. Developed countries, notably the United States and Germany, play a significant role in this field and maintain close cooperation. However, exchanges and collaboration between China and developed countries remain limited and require further strengthening. The top-ranked journals by number of published papers are all high-quality domestic and foreign publications, with the domestic journal Oil & Gas Storage and Transportation and the foreign journal International Journal of Hydrogen Energy leading in the number of papers published. Compared with foreign countries, China has a delayed start in research on hydrogen pipeline transportation. Foreign scholars are at the forefront of studies on compatibility analysis of pipes in hydrogen-blended environments, quantitative risk assessment of hydrogen transportation pipelines, and operational analysis of hydrogen-blended natural gas pipeline networks from a systems engineering perspective. In the future, China can promote the development of hydrogen pipeline transportation by focusing on domestic and international collaborations, as well as exploring diverse research subjects and perspectives to address existing challenges in the field.

Conclusion The research findings offer valuable insights and guidance for scholars studying hydrogen pipeline transportation technology.