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Helium Shortage Leads World to Reconsider Applications, Procedures for Efficient Use

The global market is facing its third shortage of helium. Beginning in the spring of 2018, a series of planned and unplanned outages affected global access to supply. While many may immediately think this means party balloons are at the greatest risk, those who know and use helium—scientists, researchers, doctors,...

Cryotreating Strengthens Anti-Embolism Stockings for Cancer Patients

Anti-embolism stockings are designed to promote healthy blood flow and prevent blood clotting. The cost can range from $50 to $200 and they wear out quickly, leading to more expense. To ease the financial burden on cancer patients, Circle City Cryogenics in Indianapolis has developed a cryotreating process that improves...

“Hospital” Preserves Coral with Cryogenics

Researchers at the Taiwan Coral Reef Society have established a biopreservation and treatment center for coral reefs. Analogous to a human hospital, “sick” corals are diagnosed either in situ or in the hospital's diagnostic clinic to determine the cause of the illness. Corals are “treated” and returned to their home...

Meyer Tool and Manufacturing Ships Cryogenic Distribution Box to FNAL

On June 19, Meyer Tool & Manufacturing (CSA CSM) completed fabrication of a cryogenic distribution box for Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (also a CSA CSM). The box will be used for the Muon-to-Electron conversion (Mu2e) experiment.

Containing Hydrogen in a Materials World

The Hydrogen Materials Compatibility Consortium—or H-Mat—is conducting early-stage research to understand how hydrogen affects the polymers and metals used in infrastructure to store, transport, compress and dispense the fuel. The consortium’s goal is to improve the reliability and durability of materials used in hydrogen infrastructure while also identifying alternative, less...

New Plane Can Fly 500 Miles Powered Entirely by Hydrogen

ZeroAvia, the California startup that designed a hydrogen-fueled electric powertrain for a hydrogen-powered six-seat plane, has been testing the technology during the past year to reduce emissions from air travel. With August’s successful flight, it expects to begin supplying the powertrain for planes carrying 20 passengers for up to 500...

Latest in Defining Cryogenics

Dewar

A dewar is a type of cryostat named after Sir James Dewar, the researcher who first developed the concept of a vacuum insulated container with silvered walls to reflect thermal radiation. Dewar was the first to liquefy hydrogen, and he created the device to store his discovery. The thermos bottle...

Stirling and Gifford-McMahon Cryocoolers

Stirling and Gifford-McMahon (GM) cryocoolers are two of the most commonly used cryocoolers in cryogenics. Both devices have a significant industrial base and operate at a wide range of temperatures and capacities. The thermodynamic cycles for both of these cryocoolers are quite similar. The Stirling cycle consists of a compressor,...

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

A significant commercial application of cryogenics is the liquefaction, transport and storage of natural gas. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is generally 95 percent methane with a few percent ethane and much lower concentrations of propane and butane. LNG liquefies at 111.6 K. Unlike many applications of cryogenics, the motivation for...

Latest in Cryo Central

Cryogenic Electronics

Randall Kirschman, consulting physicist, Mountain View, California ExtElect@gmail.com Cryogenic electronics—the operation of electronic devices, circuits, and systems at cryogenic temperatures—has been a valuable technology for decades. Cryogenic electronics (also referred to as low-temperature electronics, or cold electronics) can be based on semiconductive devices, on superconductive devices, or on a combination...

Particle Physics: High Energy Physics

Cryogenics and High-Energy Physics 1. From symmetry magazine: http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/cms/?pid=1000627: Cryogenics is the study of how materials behave at temperatures near absolute zero. In high-energy particle accelerators, such frigid temperatures reduce the electrical resistance of wires in superconducting magnets, increasing the magnet strength and allowing faster particle acceleration. The same holds...

HTS Degaussing Systems

From the Spring 2009 issue of Cold Facts (Volume 25, Number 2): Thanks to a joint project by the US Navy and a number of industry partners, high temperature superconducting (HTS) technology is now at the heart of an advanced degaussing system aboard the USS Higgins at the naval station...

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

From http://www.superconductors.org: An area where superconductors can perform a life-saving function is in the field of biomagnetism. Doctors need a non-invasive means of determining what’s going on inside the human body. By impinging a strong superconductor-derived magnetic field into the body, hydrogen atoms that exist in the body’s water and...

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