Re: Liquid Helium Shortage

Michael Strain (strain@mango.uoregon.edu)
Mon, 23 Jul 2001 22:59:12 -0700



On Mon, 23 Jul 2001, Woody Conover wrote:

> Hello All,
> 
> Our Liquid Helium distributor has put us on 70% rationing when we
> order liquid helium.  Since we don't order extra liquid helium each
> time and the magnets don't have a dial which adjusts the liquid helium
> boil-off to 70%, this is of some concern to us.
> 
> Last year we had a similar rationing of liquid helium, but as I
> recall, this was due to a major fire at one of the few liquid helium
> manufacturers in the United States.  It was supposed to be a one time
> thing and not happen again, at least not every summer.
> 
> So my question to the group is are you also on liquid helium rationing
> or is it time for us to change liquid helium vendors?
> 
> woody@acornnmr.com
> 

Hmm, maybe this explains why all of our recent liquid helium orders have
been short in recent months.... typically about 75-85 liters instead of
the 100 that we order.  Our supplier is Air Products who have a plant in
Renton, WA, I believe.

--Mike

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Michael Strain				strain@mango.uoregon.edu
Institute of Molecular Biology  	desk/voice-mail: 541-346-4605
  & Department of Chemistry		FAX:		 541-346-5891
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403
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