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Message from the Director:

What do thermal comfort and a 4,000 hp large bore engine have in common? Fundamental principles, plain and simple.

Our philosophy at the National Gas Machinery Laboratory is one of working together, working with others outside the Laboratory, and focusing on fundamental principles, which have many diverse applications. Our focus area is energy transmission and distribution. Energy must be transported and delivered in a way that is useful to the consumer. It is also covers a somewhat diverse set of applications. 

For example, the natural gas used in this country is transported through a very invasive pipeline system. The pipelines used to transport the natural gas are powered by massive reciprocating and gas turbine engines operating anywhere from 1,000 hp to over 50,000 hp. Currently, there are about 12,000 engines in service. Most of these engines were installed in the 1940's and 1950's when energy efficiency and air pollution were not primary concerns. In our current setting, these engines need to operate efficiently, reliably, and as cleanly as possible to transport and distribute natural gas throughout the country. 

A second example that affects all of us is the energy distribution within our homes and workplaces. The goal of distributing energy within an occupied space can be for human thermal comfort, artifact preservation, or a host of other purposes. The easiest way is to simply put energy into the space with a forced air furnace. However, this method relies on the air in the room to redistribute the energy for the specified purpose. If you happen to be sitting next to a window on a cold day and the thermostat is set to 75°F, you may feel cold because the energy is delivered to the room, and not to your precise location. You can bet, though, the location where the thermostat is positioned is at 75°F even though you feel like the temperature near the window is 65°F. Consequently more energy than necessary may be put into the room to make sure that the intended purpose is satisfied. Providing just the right amount of energy to the exact location it is needed would be a more efficient distribution of the energy.

To meet our mission of finding better ways to transport and distribute energy, our research focus ranges from improving the air flow rate through the large bore engines used to transport natural gas and petroleum products, optimizing pipeline operation, developing highly efficient methods to heat and cool buildings, and strategies to lower and monitor pollutant emissions from combustion processes. At first, these might seem like a very diverse set of research activities and one might even argue that because of their diverse nature, we cannot use the word "focus." However, the fundamental engineering principles are the same -- it does not matter if we are distributing energy in a room or transporting energy across the United States. Hence, we strive to excel in the fundamentals and then apply them to a seemingly diverse set of applications.

Probably our most important asset in conducting research is not that of engineering fundamentals. It is our ability to work well with others. We have found that working effectively with others really is an art. Being in the limelight appeals to almost everyone, but cooperation, not competition, is at the heart of win-win relationships. Win-win means agreements or solutions benefit and satisfy all parties -- not your way or my way, but a better way. This principle is built on three characteristics based on Franklin-Covey concepts:

1. Solid performance. When the camera's not rolling, does your walk and talk reflect what matters most to you? If you know what a win is for you, others will also. Integrity of character establishes trust;
2. Balance. Win-win requires maturity -- a balance between courage and consideration. You express your feelings and ideas with courage, but you share the stage and allow others to do the same; and
3. Plenty for all. With win-win, you develop an "abundance mentality" and realize that everyone can have a piece of the pie. Sharing prestige and recognition opens the doors for greater options, alternatives, and creativity.

The bottom line is that we work to determine how to distribute energy by understanding fundamental engineering principles, but we realize we can only find long-term success by working effectively with others.

Kirby Chapman, Director NGML