Monthly Archives: December 2012

As Supply Shrinks, Price Of Helium Soars

Francey Freeman has seen the cost of doing business go sky-high. Prices for buying helium to fill balloons and rental tanks at her Balloons Fantastique in Fort Worth have dramatically increased in the past year, because of a worldwide shortage … Continue reading

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Growing Crystals in Microgravity

Japanese researchers have successfully grown helium crystals in a microgravity environment, using acoustic waves, providing an opportunity to study the dynamics of how such crystals form in much shorter time frames than can be done in terrestrial labs, and perhaps … Continue reading

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Praxair Increases Helium Prices

A week after announcing price increases for industrial gases-including nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, among others-industrial gas producer and supplier, Praxair Inc. ( PX ) raised prices for bulk purchase of liquid helium for its customers. The change, which implies an … Continue reading

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Scientist Calls For Ban On Helium Balloons

Helium balloons should be banned to preserve the supply of the gas for use in life-saving medical equipment such as breathing apparatus for newborn babies, according to a Cambridge University chemist. Read more

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EUR 83 million Contract Signed For Liquid Helium Plant

The ITER Tokamak will rely on the largest cryogenic plant (cryoplant) infrastructure ever built. Three liquid helium plants, working in parallel, will provide a total average cooling capacity of 75 kW at 4.5 K and a maximum cumulated liquefaction rate … Continue reading

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