*Riken ---Japan Institute of Physical and Chemical Engineering, Japan Institute of Physical and Chemical Engineering,
Helium is essential for various studies such as cooling of cyclotrons, coolants of superconducting electromagnets in NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) equipment, and the experiment and development of condensed matter physics . However, due to the global supply shortage, it has become difficult to obtain in recent years.
Japanese Institute of Physical and Chemistry The hospital is full of huge silver cylinders. It is a storage tank that stores extremely low temperature liquefied helium. Photos of Duan Zhongzhi, a technical expert who participated in the collection and liquefaction of waste helium at Riken.
The demand for helium has risen and the price has soared
helium is the second lightest element after hydrogen. It is a " single-atom molecule " stable with one atom , so it has extremely strong inertia, and the lowest boiling point in the element is -269℃. It exists in two states: gas and liquid. In the industry, gas is widely used as a gas when making semiconductors and fiber . Liquid is widely used as a coolant for superconducting electromagnets in medical nuclear magnetic resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance.
In addition, in research institutions and universities such as RiResearch and other research institutions and universities, helium is indispensable as a high-performance cooling material in the field of low-temperature engineering where superconducting and superfluid phenomena occur at extremely low temperatures near absolute zero (-273.15°C). In recent years, quantum computer has also been used for the research and development of quantum computers, and the demand is increasing. However, with China and Southeast Asia as the center, high-tech industries such as semiconductors have expanded rapidly, and coupled with the popularization of MRI for medical use, consumption around the world is increasing. However, due to the lack of production, prices continued to rise after 2019.
Helium is rich in space, but is extremely rare on Earth, with only 0.0005% (5ppm) in the atmosphere. Therefore, the underground helium is extracted from natural gas , but with high helium content is limited. In 2020, the United States will account for about 52% of global production, while , Qatar, will account for about 32%, and these two countries alone account for more than 80%. Russia is also conducting production projects, but it is interrupted by the Russian-Ukrainian War.
Japanese helium consumption diagram
Japanese helium use (2021). It consumes 6660000m3 gas and 2667000m3 liquid, totaling 9327000m3. Low-temperature engineering (universities and research institutes) only uses helium and liquid helium .466 million cubic meters, accounting for only about 5% of the total amount. However, due to recycling and reliquefaction, the actual usage is 8 to 9 times that of this number, accounting for about 30% of the total amount.
In addition, in research institutions and universities such as Rioyan and other research institutions and universities, in the field of low-temperature engineering where superconducting and superfluid phenomena occur at extremely low temperatures near absolute zero (-273.15°C), helium is indispensable as a high-performance cooling material. In recent years, quantum computers have also been used for the research and development of quantum computers, and the demand is increasing. However, with China and Southeast Asia as the center, high-tech industries such as semiconductors have expanded rapidly, and the popularity of medical MRI has made consumption worldwide. However, due to the lack of production, prices continued to rise after 2019.
Helium is rich in space, but is extremely rare on Earth, with only 0.0005% (5ppm) in the atmosphere. Therefore, underground helium is extracted from natural gas, but natural gas fields with high helium content are limited. In 2020, the United States will account for about 52% of global production, while Qatar will account for about 32%, with these two countries alone accounting for more than 80%. Russia is also conducting production projects, but it is interrupted by the Russian-Ukrainian war. Since joining the Rio Research Institute in 2007, Duanzuo has been responsible for the application and management of helium liquefaction equipment in Heguang area. Because it will constantly leak out from tiny holes, it is very difficult to store it alone. In order to recover the used helium in laboratories and other laboratories, underground pipelines with a total length of 2 kilometers were laid in the Wakuk area. It will also reduce a little bit during the process of passing through the pipeline. “Due to the aging of the device, the increase in the supplementary volume from 2016 to 2020 has promoted the renovation and addition of each device.In addition, due to laboratory inspections on the use of helium and the increased awareness of users, the recovery rate has been rising, and now it has reached more than 95%. "
For about 60 years, it has been committed to recycling and utilization of
Liyan only purchases the reduced parts of helium that are leaked in experiments or storage or cannot be recycled. That is to say, the increase in recycling rate is directly related to the reduction of helium purchase costs. The price of purchasing helium in 2022 has increased by about 5 times compared with 10 years ago. "The hard work of researchers is immeasurable. In order to minimize purchases, we plan to further improve the recycling rate in the future. "
The recycling trend that I want to promote
The liquid helium divided into small pieces in the storage tank was sent to the laboratory again. The technician Duan Zhong, who has a special license, personally drove a truck equipped with small crane and a small truck with power doors. "Now, it is enough to just supply the internal supply of Liyan. In the future, when an emergency occurs, this special truck can be used to quickly supply liquid helium to the outside. One day, I want to promote the recycling trend to places outside Riyan. "
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