Liquid Helium rationing.
Woody Conover (woody@acornnmr.com)
Tue, 24 Jul 2001 09:14:44 -0700
Howdy All,
We got a many responses to our question about a liquid
helium shortage. The summary of response is below.
We buy our liquid helium from MR Resources. We called them
to inquire about the shortage. They report that:
"they were told last Wed that there is a nationwide
shortage for the foreseeable future. They have no
information as to what's causing the shortage. For the
duration of the shortage Dewars will be filled 70% full.
Prices are also up 15%."
>From the summary three sites reported problems and a couple
discussed "changing supplies of liquid helium". This was
from more than 20 sites. So the liquid helium shortage is
not yet a wide spread problem. So either this is a shortage
that is just starting or only some vendors are having
problems.
To explore this issue, we plan on investigating if there
are any other vendors for our cryogens which might be more
reliable.
woody@acornnmr.com
======================================================
We had been using PraxAir as our vendor, but our 300MHz
magnet only takes 30L to fill, and PraxAir is in the
process of discontinuing their 30L delivery. Because of
this, I have just finished comparing all He vendors in our
area. None of them mentioned any kind of rationing. Just
yesterday, I met with a representative from BOC gases, and
he assured me no problems. There prices were also very
competitive, so as of now, BOC will be our liquid He
supplier.
=======================================================
Before I left XXXXXXX, we had this problem with BOC...we
would get an average of 65% to 75% of the ordered volume.
This required us to order 100L dewars, which are often too
tall (depending on the valve configuration) to fill the
R2D2 magnets. I understood that this was a continuation of
the previous shortage problem, but who knows.
I haven't ordered LHe here in YYYYYYYY yet, but I should
find out soon. I understand that they order from BOC here
also, so I shouldn't expect much difference.
========================================================
Tri-Gas is not rationing XXXXXXXX.
========================================================
We are also on liquid He rationing: the same thing - 70%.
We get ours through MR Resources. We usually buy a 60 L
dewar and fill 2 magnets with it. I guess this time we
will order a 100 L dewar with 70 L in it.
==========================================================
We buy our liquid Helium from BOC Gases. They have not, to
date, notified us of any problem in filling our orders. We
use only 33 liters per two months. Last year, when the
rationing was announced, we were told, because of the small
amount of liquid He that we require, that we would not be
rationed.
Perhaps BOC Gases has a distributor in your area.
=========================================================
Sounds weird.
Never heard of that, but we order through a company who
buys it from someone else whenever I order.
It's a good idea anyway to know a few alternate suppliers
of gas, just in case anyway.
=========================================================
Just yesterday, I had to make an emergency order for liquid
He and there was no problem here and I have not been
advised by my distributor, Praxair, of any shortage.
=========================================================
Is this rationing a recent occurrence? Last month I ordered
liquid Helium and I got the full 500 liters I expected. The
vendor I order from is Praxair. They have been pretty
reliable in deliveries so far.
Good luck,
=========================================================
We have gotten all our He from Praxair since our local
Physics Dept stopped supporting their recycle/liquefier two
years ago.
Praxair has had marvelous service at a good price all
XXXXXXXX use is pooled so we get down to $3 something a
liter. 6 weeks ago they added 50cents/liter because their
gas supplier backed out of a deal with them.
The cause, as I recall was some refinery breakdown.... I
will also say that Praxair for all its excellent delivery
coordination has a very lame billing department and we
spend quite a bit of energy getting accounts straightened
out and bucking false demurrage charges.
I'm still happy with Praxair because on time and complete
delivery are what's important.
=========================================================
We use 100 liters every 90 days and I have not heard
anything about rationing from our vendor.
=========================================================
Our supplier is Prax Air and so far we have not been
notified of a rationing program.
Here on the east coast we have no problem getting liquid
helium. We use Air Products as our supplier. I have also
contacted Praxair and they say that they can deliver
whatever we need.
=========================================================
Here at the XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, we use Air Products & have
heard nothing about rationing. My last order was a 250
liter dewar ordered on 10-July.
Of course with the University being a large user of
cryogens, & compressed gases, if Air Products implemented a
rationing program, they probably wouldn't apply it here.
7 NMR magnets in Chemistry Building
1 NMR magnet in College of Medicine
5 or 6 MRI in Hospital
=========================================================
Time to change vendors.
=========================================================
We have no problem obtaining the requested amount of liquid
He. We can usually get the He within 1 week of an order.
Our supplier is Air Products.
Good Luck
==========================================================
I think it's time to change vendors. We order liquid
helium at least once every 3 months, and I've never heard
of having to ration our helium. Maybe you should at least
call another vendor and see if they are rationing their
helium.
=========================================================
To the best of my knowledge, we are not on any helium
rationing program.
=========================================================
No problem last week when we received our 100 L order via
Praxair's Ohio distribution center. Of course the shipper
almost imposed a rationing of sorts when he let our dewar
roll of the back of his truck! Surprisingly, beyond a
severely deformed ring on top (it landed completely upside
down!) the dewer was fine and I still had 95 L to use.
=========================================================
Order 143% of what you need!!!
I have never experienced this in the Los Angeles area.
=========================================================
As a fellow Bay Area helium consumer... I am quite
interested in what you hear.
Apparently our helium situation changed recently as well.
I heard indirectly that the SF distribution center, or
plant, of our vendor has stopped handling liquid helium.
Now shipments must come from southern California. This
necessitates a 4-day normal lead-time on orders where it
used to be a 2-day normal lead-time.
However, there was no mention of rationing.
I plan to dig around for a little more info from the
vendor. Will pass it on to you if relevant.
========================================================
Our He plant folks have not mentioned anything this year.
They get cryogens from Praxair.
I'm surprised you magnets have no boil-off dial at all.
Ouch, you may have to turn them off on Sundays!
Cheers,
========================================================
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.
=====================================================
We have been told by BOC that there is a L-He shortage
again, and put us on 70% distribution too. Since BOC has
cut back their delivery schedule to San Diego area, I am
considering change L-He supplier at this time
=======================================================
No rationing here so far. I use an 800 number out of Reno
and that might be the key. There is a Texas distributor
which flies Lhe anywhere. Their price was about the same as
Air Products so I did not change vendors.
How about pressurizing the magnets?
======================================================
We buy from Air Products ($162/60L) and there is no rationing.