From more stringent emission regulations to limited capital budgets, natural gas pipeline companies are continually challenged to produce "more bang for the buck." For engineers, this means a visit to the design board to come up with low-cost, comprehensive, and timely methods and technologies for safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly natural gas transportation. But before new technologies can be designed, a clear identification of the issues that limit "more bang for the buck" natural gas delivery must be made. Working at the forefront of these issues is the Compressor and Pumping Station Technical Committee of the Pipeline Research Council International, Inc. (PRCI) and the Gas Technology Institute (GTI). This committee identified relevant issues and obtained funding for a focused research program, which resulted in a multi-pronged effort that is implemented by researchers throughout the nation. This article focuses on air flow management through the engine and highlights some of the research being conducted in this area at the Kansas State University National Gas Machinery Laboratory (NGML).
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