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LNG technology wins 2007 Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer

The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) has announced the winners of the 2007 Awards for Excellence in Technology Transfer.

Among these, INL's Compact High Efficiency Natural Gas Liquefier was selected to recognize "laboratory employees who have accomplished outstanding work in the process of transferring a technology developed by a federal laboratory to the commercial marketplace."

Small-scale liquefied natural gas plants, that draw from existing natural gas lines, are becoming increasingly attractive.

In 2000, a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with PG&E and Southern California Gas Company (SCGC) led to the construction of a 10,000 gallon/day plant located in Sacramento. Its compact size and automated operation allowed the liquefaction facility to be located within Sacramento's Historic District. In June 2002, the unveiling of the small-scale natural gas liquefaction facility showcased the success of a public-private partnership between the INL, PG&E and SCGC.

Following the success of the Sacramento facility, the California-based Southwest Transportation Agency (STA), Hanover Compression LP, and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District partnered with the INL to develop and demonstrate a liquid and compressed natural gas fueling station in Caruthers, California. Since April 2005, one-third of Fresno's school buses have been filling up at the INL-developed, state-of-the art natural gas fueling station at the Southwest Education Support Center in Caruthers, California.

In 2004, INL licensed the technology in a particular field of use to Hanover Compression LP. Hanover is a global market leader in full service natural gas compression and a leading provider of service, fabrication and equipment for oil and natural gas processing and transportation application.

INL's Compact High Efficiency Natural Gas Liquefier has generated worldwide licensing interest with inquiries from 36 countries. Representatives from many of these countries, including Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Bangladesh have visited the INL in Idaho Falls, Idaho, or the liquefaction facility in Sacramento, California.

The team of Bruce Wilding, Terry Turner, Michael McKellar, Dennis Bingham, Frank Carney, Kerry Klingler, Douglas Stacey and David Anderson will be recognized for their efforts at an award ceremony on Thursday, May 17, 2007 at the FLC National Meeting in Arlington, Texas.

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