Over the years, Cold Facts has been privileged to have published informed, thoughtful and innovative columns by a series of leaders in the cryogenics industry. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights of the past and a review of our present contributors.
Starting in the Summer of 1994, Volume 10, #3, Ray Szara wrote our first column, “Cryomusings,” through Summer of 1999, Volume 15, #3. We’ve detailed many of Ray’s other contributions to CSA in previous issues. This was just one more example of his loyal support of CSA!
Ray wrote about his early years at the University of Chicago, where he arrived as a physicist and quickly was pressed into becoming a cryogenic engineer! His first challenge right out of the gate was to design and build a new helium liquefier. With the help of many expert colleagues at the lab, the project was a success. He later was proud of building a helium dilution refrigerator from scratch. Ray’s career was parallel to the post atomic bomb era. In fact, his lab was situated at first under Stagg Field, next to the first atomic pile (which was later moved to Argonne National Lab), but that area was off-limits to the lab folks. Ray wrote that he was loaned to the great Enrico Fermi to teach him cryogenics! He reported that Fermi was quite modest and insisted on doing the work himself, so he could learn. He never found out what Fermi was going to use this new knowledge for, but Ray was excited that cryogenics and high energy physics co-existed “side by side.”
In Summer 1998, Volume 14, #3, Dr. Ray Radebaugh agreed to take on a column for us. His first title was “Cool Views,” but it soon morphed into the extremely prestigious “Cryo Frontiers,” which we felt was a fitting title since he was located in Colorado, which had been a breeding ground for leading cryogenicists for a long time. Ray wrote his column for 14 years, ending in Fall 2012. It was indeed a prodigious body of work.
The topics covered in this column are a truly impressive collection of cutting edge thoughts and reportage on a whole gamut of fascinating subjects. Just some of the topics Ray covered so well over the years were: thermal insulation; pulse tube refrigerators; history of cryogenics over the centuries; infrared and cryogenics; new superconductivity: a hot topic; low temperatures and Nobel prizes; cryogenics in medicine; micro cryogenics; cryogenic treatment; cooling with electrons; a ride in a Japanese maglev train; superconductivity and the human body; Mars or bust; getting the heat out; China: advancing the frontiers of cryogenics; origins of our universe; terahertz waves—the last electromagnetic frontier; DOD’s Active Denial System; electricity and hydrogen; cryogrinding for the gourmet cook; infrared astronomy from balloons and rockets; what’s the next NASA frontier?; the spooky world of quantum computers, and the last column: better health through cryomedicine.
Another feather in our cap was convincing Dr. Glen McIntosh to write for us. At first, starting in Fall 1999, Volume 15, #4, the column was called “Emerging Cryogenics,” and provided, in Glen’s words, “unique perspectives on the history of cryogenics, anecdotes and personalities.” He wrote extensively on the history of the Cryogenic Engineering Conference—he is proud to have attended every CEC. He highlighted the accomplishments of many of the early pioneers of cryogenics. Changing from historical to technical topics, Glen changed the title of his column to “Cryogenic Concepts” in Winter 2006, Volume 22, #1, and began to write about design problems and solutions. The column became a veritable “how to” on so many cryogenic issues, drawing on his more than 50 years (at that time!) of cryogenic experience. Topics ranged from superinsulation; MLI, cryocoooler design problems; bad insulating vacuum—vacuum technology; a simple thermal siphon system; pressure buildup design calculations; William Gifford’s ‘Thermal Check Valves’; the Kutateladze boiling heat transfer rate correlation; proper design of Joule-Thomson valves, transfer losses, subcooling; impact and limitations of film boiling, and for his final column, historical observations after 60 years in cryogenics. Glen is still writing for us, authoring the Kryo Kwiz feature for our monthly CryoChronicle e-publication. His quiz questions are real challenges and the winners can congratulate themselves on their knowhow.
Mystery Unlocked
In Winter 2000, Volume 16, #2, a short series of columns by “Cryogenics Veteran K. SENNO” began appearing. The pseudonymous author began with a controversial article on cryocooler research, asking, “Is there any reason to pursue it?” We told readers that “Dr. Senno has been active in the field since the days of Russell Scott and Sam Collins. He agreed to write op-ed pieces from time to time…Hint: Spell his name backwards.” Senno’s columns discussed problems with compressors, regenerators, and other fundamental issues. He commented that the easy problems with cryocoolers “have all been solved, but a solution to the harder ones is not around the corner, and in my humble but correct opinion, never will be.” Senno also wrote a series of useful articles on safety. A response to Senno came from Professor and Assistant Dean Emeritus Dr. John Chato of the University of Illinois, who gave answers to some of the tough questions Senno had posed. Chato correctly discerned that the pen name stood for the superconductivity pioneer Kammerlingh Onnes. It can now be revealed that Senno was in actuality Dr. Thomas Flynn of Cryoco, who doubtless had a grand time expounding on his pet issues in six numbers of Cold Facts.
Because safety is such a vital topic in our business, we were lucky to have a new columnist in Fall 2001, Volume 17, #4, Dr. Fred Edeskuty, who had co-authored a major sourcebook on the topic and was a sought-out expert in the field. Among the subjects he addressed until Fall 2004, Volume 20, #4, was working with cryogenic fluids—hazards they can present; physiological hazards: asphyxiation, toxicity; mechanical hazards: embrittlement, pressure buildup, thermal contraction and stress; condensation; combustion, and safety precautions when working with oxygen.
From Fall 2002, Volume 18, #4 to Winter 2004, Volume 20, #1, we ran “Cryo Memoirs,” a column by Arthur Francis. He discussed the development of liter scale liquid helium at Union Carbide, where he had worked for a long time; bulk transport and transfilling stations, and cryogenics in the US Antarctic Program, in which he had participated.
As a result of our sponsorship of the Space Cryogenics Workshop beginning in 1980, we had long felt the need to cover the topic of space cryogenics, so we were fortunate to bring Dr. Peter Mason on board in Winter 2005, Volume 21, #1, to write that column. Peter contributed insightful and interesting columns for eight years, wrapping up with a column on three major trends in the field for the Winter 2012 issue, Volume 29, #1. Graciously agreeing to cover for his successor, he has written the “Space Cryogenics” column for this issue. Some of the topics Peter has addressed are: what is space cryogenics?; what kinds of instruments are used in space?; a series on achieving cryogenic temperatures in space; missions using supercritical and superfluid helium as a coolant; infrared observatories using liquid helium; all the major missions including XRS, Planck, Herschel, Gravity Probe B, James Webb Space Telescope, Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe, and reports on several Space Cryogenics Workshops.
After hearing him deliver an invited paper on space cryogenics at the 2010 Wroclaw ICEC/ICMC, we asked Dr. Peter Shirron to take over for Peter Mason. Despite a totally packed schedule that requires him to travel frequently between NASA Goddard and Japan, he agreed. He took over the column in Fall 2012, Volume 28, #4, with a comprehensive article on the future of space cryogenics. Topics he has covered since then include stored cryogenic systems vs. cryocoolers; the 2013 Space Cryogenics Workshop and five years of progress in space cryogenics.
When we found ourselves consulting Dr. John Weisend II frequently for definitions of cryogenics terms, we asked him to create a regular column explaining these terms. He began “Defining Cryogenics” in Winter 2009, Volume 25, #1. Since then he has provided expert, cogent explanations of thermal acoustic oscillation, cryostats and cryocoolers, cryogen-free, Kelvin temperature scale, Joule-Thomson effect, Kaptiza conductance, cryopumping, zero boiloff, thermosyphon, adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration, cryomodule, transfer lines, SC RF cavities and more.
After they correctly answered several of Glen McIntosh’s KryoKwiz stumpers, we invited both John Jurns and Dr. Bill Schwenterly to share their expertise with our readers. Both agreed and started in Spring 2013, Volume 29, #2. Readers are enjoying and learning from both Jurns’ “Cryo Oops” column, which details cryogenic mistakes and how they can be prevented, and Schwenterly’s “Cold Cases,” which continues the emphasis on technical tips, problems and solutions that Glen McIntosh provided.
Take a look at the columns in this magazine. We know you’ll learn a lot and enjoy your time spent with these experts!
