Issues:
Client engaged Nerac for an independent, third party assessment of their turbo expander in place of throttle valves at letdown stations for natural gas distribution systems. The overall intent was to understand the future opportunities in a market which transcends traditional and alternative energy. Nerac was engaged to evaluate the following:
- Identify the international market sizes and trends
- Estimate payback periods
- Develop customer lists
- Determine if any Intellectual property would impede the commercialization of this product or potential partners
- Access the client’s solution against competitive products to determine strengths and weaknesses
- Analysis performed by Nerac demonstrated the viability of the Clients product against current competition and market trends.
Approach:
The client’s design was evaluated first for technical suitability in a gas letdown station by developing the appropriate energy analysis model. Subsequent analysis would then determine where this design fit into the current market and which competitors were already producing products there.
Results:
- Nerac discovered that the energy model of the turbo expander revealed that it was undersized for use in the client’s originally intended application of a letdown station.
- Nerac recommended against entering this market ,and instead to look for alternative opportunities which were more suitable for this design.
- At the client’s request, Nerac moved forward with identifying an appropriate market for their design.
- The final results, reviewed with the client, were used to establish the appropriate product/ marketing roadmap.
- This new direction saved the client significant capital investment by avoiding entry into the wrong market.
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