Today, helium’s uses go far beyond its traditional role as the gas used to inflate party balloons or alter one’s voice. Its application in medicine, cutting-edge scientific research, and space exploration is transforming its utility and profoundly impacting its availability and value.

Although helium is the second most abundant element in the universe, it is relatively scarce on Earth, comprising only 0.001% of the atmosphere. It is mainly found in underground natural gas reservoirs, trapped within geological formations. These reservoirs currently serve as the primary source of helium supply.

As more crucial uses for helium are discovered, its availability is becoming an increasingly critical issue, especially for liquid helium. Liquid helium acts as a key refrigerant, boasting the lowest boiling point of any chemical element (-268.9°C or 4.2 K). This unique property has made it indispensable in various applications requiring extremely low temperatures, such as superconductors, nuclear reactors, aerospace exploration, and advanced medicine.

Cryogenic engineering plays a pivotal role in leveraging helium’s potential. For many of its key applications, helium must remain in a liquid state at temperatures near absolute zero, requiring advanced cryogenic equipment. Handling helium also necessitates stringent safety protocols, such as helium leak detection, to maintain operational integrity.

Keep learning: Cryospain’s helium leak-testing inspection system

Thus, a complex ecosystem of industries and technical specializations has emerged around helium, driving its applications to new frontiers. Let’s delve into some of them.

Helium: What is it used for in medicine?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and liquid helium

Liquid helium is essential for cooling superconducting magnets in MRI machines. Its ability to remain extremely cold is critical for absorbing the heat generated by these magnets.

Thanks to helium, the magnets operate without electrical resistance, a key factor in producing detailed images of the human body. However, the complex cooling process carries risks, such as helium leaks, making the maintenance and care of MRI equipment crucial.

Helium in respiratory medicine

A mixture of oxygen and helium (heliox) is used in treating certain medical conditions. Because helium is lighter than air, it reduces airway resistance, aiding in the treatment of respiratory diseases.

Other medical uses of helium

Helium also plays a role in laser surgery and cryosurgery, leveraging its ability to freeze tissues effectively.

cryoline reference list

Uses of helium in scientific research and cryogenics

Scientific research and laboratories

With its exceptionally low boiling point, helium has become a key ally in experiments requiring low temperatures in fields such as particle physics, materials science, and quantum physics.

The most notable example is the use of liquid helium in cooling superconducting magnets, which are critical for equipment like particle accelerators (e.g., the Large Hadron Collider) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) systems.

Additionally, helium is employed to create low-temperature environments to study quantum phenomena near absolute zero, such as superfluidity and superconductivity.

Cryogenics and low-temperature experiments

Helium is enabling advancements in cryogenic science and engineering, driving the development of increasingly sophisticated cooling systems. These systems are indispensable for processes requiring extreme cooling.

An example is the Cryospain test bench project, which involves designing systems to test pipes under varying temperature, pressure, and force conditions in a high-vacuum environment. This project is integrated into nuclear fusion and energy sector initiatives, requiring unique technical solutions, including helium leak tests.

Uses of helium in aerospace exploration

Cooling systems

Helium is an essential component of complex cooling systems in the aerospace sector, thanks to its two key characteristics:

  • It is chemically inert, meaning it does not react with other materials.
  • In liquid form, it achieves temperatures near absolute zero.

These properties make helium ideal for cooling complex and sensitive equipment in satellites, space probes, and telescopes.

Helium is also vital for cooling extremely sensitive sensors, such as those used to detect electromagnetic radiation (e.g., infrared and X-rays). These sensors must operate at ultra-low temperatures to prevent thermal noise from interfering with measurements—a condition enabled by helium.

Additionally, helium is used to cool superconducting magnets in some measurement instruments for space missions.

Applications of helium in rockets and space balloons

Cutting-edge research in propulsion systems has highlighted helium’s importance. For instance, the SABRE (Synergistic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine) technology, a hybrid hypersonic air-breathing rocket engine, relies on liquid helium and hydrogen for its operation.

This innovative aerospace technology combines state-of-the-art cryogenic engineering with exceptional performance. It can cool incoming air at speeds up to Mach 5.5, reducing temperatures from 1000°C to -150°C in a fraction of a second.

Cryospain contributed to this pioneering project by providing advanced pipe-in-pipe systems, essential for its development.

cryogenic engineering guide

Helium shortage: a challenge for cutting-edge scientific and technical research

As noted earlier, Earth’s helium reserves are limited, and its extraction involves complex and costly processes. Consequently, as helium’s applications expand in technical and scientific fields, its availability continues to decline.

Economic and geopolitical interests surrounding valuable resources further complicate helium’s supply, making it a fragile commodity.

After a period of global scarcity in recent years, 2024 saw an increase in available helium reserves. However, industry publications caution that the “supply remains fragile,” partly due to past wastage of helium for recreational purposes before its critical scientific value was recognized.

Consequences of helium shortage and some strategies to address it

Helium scarcity directly affects cutting-edge applications, potentially disrupting MRI equipment production and delaying research projects in fields like particle physics and aerospace.

Addressing this shortage has become imperative, with emerging solutions focused on improving efficiency, such as helium recycling and recovery systems.

Additionally, lunar exploration programs by China and the United States are targeting helium-3 reserves on the moon. This lighter isotope of helium, scarcely found on Earth, could have significant implications for advanced cryogenics.

Cryospain: experts in cryogenic solutions with helium

At Cryospain, we drive innovation in cutting-edge cryogenic solutions using helium.

With two decades of expertise in cryogenic engineering and involvement in global projects, we design, manufacture, and implement state-of-the-art cryogenic technologies to facilitate helium’s diverse applications.

Some examples of our helium-focused engineering expertise include:

  • Specialization in helium leak detection, including protocols for urgent detection.
  • Participation in a pioneering test bench project for nuclear fusion installations, involving the creation of modular, fully customized test benches.
  • Development of cryogenic piping for the groundbreaking SABRE project.

Our commitment to tailored cryogenic engineering, multidisciplinary expertise, and in-house manufacturing facilities underpins our ability to deliver innovative solutions.

Contact us to explore how we can help you stay at the forefront of helium applications.

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