Pilot Scale Testing of Hydrogen Blended Natural Gas on Residential Appliances

Theodore E. Street; Michael J. Pegg

doi:10.58895/hysafe.24

Pilot Scale Testing of Hydrogen Blended Natural Gas on Residential Appliances

Hydrogen Safety

Volume 3 (2026): Issue 1

By: Theodore E. Street and Michael J. Pegg

Open Access

|Feb 2026

Abstract

Previous end-use appliance studies on blending hydrogen into natural gas distribution networks have used a laboratory setup with flow controllers, pressure regulators, and a variety of different pipe/tubing materials that do not necessarily meet installation codes. Before the widespread implementation of hydrogen blended natural gas (HBNG) occurs, it will be necessary to test a variety of appliances on distribution systems that conform to natural gas installation standards such as CSA B149.1:20. This study details the design and testing of a post-meter distribution system and appliance testing programme that conforms to CSA B149.1:20 and is inspired by tests outlined in CSA Z21 appliance testing standards. This study broadly validates prior laboratory studies and provides extra data on appliance and post-meter operability. A space-heating boiler and storage water heater tested did not experience flame flashback up to 60% hydrogen while the oven broil burner and barbecue encountered intermittent flashback as the flame was turned off at 50% and 60% hydrogen respectively when tested in 2024 and 30% after a year of use. Prior literature suggests that appliance burner noise increases while this study found burner noise showed no clear trend, and the burner thermal loading decreased slightly. Both CO₂ and CO emissions were found to decrease, while NOx showed no clear trend. Mass flowrates decreased while volumetric flowrates increased with increasing hydrogen blend and closely matched calculated rates using orifice flow theory. These findings demonstrate that real-world gas system testing using code-compliant distribution systems is necessary to validate prior laboratory tests using in-situ equipment.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58895/hysafe.24

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Language: English

Page range: 25 - 38

Submitted on: Jul 24, 2025

Accepted on: Jan 26, 2026

Published on: Feb 12, 2026

Published by: KIT Scientific Publishing

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

Hydrogen natural gas,

Appliance testing,

Regulatory standards

© 2026 Theodore E. Street, Michael J. Pegg, published by KIT Scientific Publishing
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 3 (2026): Issue 1