This past May 21-22, the APGA Research Foundation (RF) and GTI Energy (GTI) held the RF/GTI Research Forum in Des Plaines, IL at GTI headquarters. GTI staff presented the latest updates on research, development, and commercialization projects funded by RF contributors, and attendees toured the laboratories where they saw projects and equipment firsthand. The RF contributes to the GTI Operations Technology Development (OTD) program, Emerging Technology Program (ETP), and Utilization Technology Development (UTD) program.
On the first day, the RF toured UTD labs, which house residential, commercial, and industrial end-use projects including transportation. GTI continues to study the effects of cooking on indoor air quality using in-lab test kitchens and off-site test kitchens in actual Chicago apartments. Using identical kitchen configurations with different fuels (gas and electric), they can compare heat plumes and better determine what is being released into the air. Notably, their research continues to demonstrate that the food product being cooked affects air quality more than the energy that is being used. GTI is also testing vent hood and burner design to determine their impacts on the cooking process and improvements that can be made.
Other end use projects on the tour included gas heat pump water and air heaters, gas combined heat and power (CHP) units, and commercial and residential carbon capture units. Attendees learned more about industrial projects, which primarily work to improve efficiency through heat capture and reuse and better burner design. GTI is also testing transportation equipment related to natural gas vehicles with the hope of more accurately gauging the amount of fuel in a “full” tank.
The following day, the RF toured OTD labs that include tools used to improve operational employee efficiency and safety. A vacuum purge system is being developed that will reduce atmospheric methane emissions during the purging process. This tool is currently being tested in the field as it approaches market readiness. GTI is currently refining and testing a meter wrench that will reduce injuries and unexpected infrastructure damage while repairing meter sets. This tool has also been field tested and brought back to the lab for additional improvement based on feedback.
Furthermore, GTI is developing a training and education library that includes short five-minute training videos, 3D equipment models that can be expanded to see small interior and exterior details, as well as virtual reality training that simulates real world situations. Smart devices in development include wi-fi connected meters that notify the gas system operator when a leak is detected (or can even stop the gas flow) and robot/drone technology that helps detect remote leaks in unstable environments or where other detection methods are not as effective.
For years, GTI research has been and continues to increase safety for gas employees, affordability for customers, and leading the effort to increase efficiency across the natural gas industry.
If you are interested in learning more about the RF or the RF/GTI Research Forum, please contact Todd Brady at tbrady@apga.org or at 202-370-6211.