Helium Gas

While helium (He) ranks as the universe’s second most abundant element after hydrogen, its presence on Earth is exceptionally scarce and finite. In the Earth’s atmosphere, helium constitutes a mere 0.0005% by volume, rendering its extraction in substantial quantities unfeasible through air separation alone. However, helium can be found at concentrations of up to 7 percent in natural gas, with extraction feasible during gas processing at concentrations exceeding 0.2%.

• Industrial Applications and Utilization

‣ Aerospace & Aircraft

Helium plays a vital role across various stages in the aerospace and aircraft industry. It is utilized for purging hydrogen systems during space flight operations, serving as a pressurizing agent for both ground and flight fluid systems. Additionally, helium provides lift for weather balloons and surveillance equipment.

‣ Automotive & Transportation Equipment

In automotive engineering, helium is instrumental in testing critical components such as radiator heat exchangers, air conditioning systems, fuel tanks, and torque converters, ensuring adherence to quality standards. Moreover, it is increasingly used alongside argon for inflating airbags.

‣ Diving

Helium, when combined with oxygen, aids in diving by mitigating nitrogen narcosis, reducing breathing resistance at depth, and minimizing decompression stops. Referred to as heliox, this mixture enables divers to explore greater depths for extended periods, with higher helium concentrations facilitating deeper dives and longer welding durations.

‣ Electronics

Helium’s role in semiconductor, LCD panel, and fiber optic wire supplying is significant. It facilitates rapid cooling of components to enhance throughput, regulates heat transfer rates to boost productivity and decrease defects, and serves as a carrier gas during production processes.

‣ Healthcare

In healthcare, helium is indispensable for achieving cryogenic temperatures necessary for superconducting magnets in MRI and NMR machines, enabling high-resolution imaging of internal organs and tissues.

‣ Welding & Metal Fabrication

Helium’s inert properties at arc temperatures make it an ideal gas for welding materials with high heat conductivity, including aluminum, stainless steel, copper, and magnesium alloys. It is also utilized in heat treatment processes such as gas quenching and furnace atmospheres to enhance part tolerance and quality.