The Cryogenics team have highlighted installstion of a new LN2 tank, that they attended several conferences, and some staff changes that have occured since the last issue.
Contents:
General Updates
LN2 Tank
Eagle-eyed visitors to ISIS may have noticed a large white 11000 litre liquid nitrogen tank has been installed below the bridge to R80. This is actually an infrastructure project for the ISIS Helium Recovery system and will allow us to double the plant’s production via the precooling of the liquefier’s heat exchangers. Not only does this give the team greater flexibility and peak output when operating the plant, but also gives fantastic energy savings as it essentially halves our energy usage per liquid litre of helium produced.
Over the coming weeks we expect to be undertaking final installation of the required supporting infrastructure and will begin the integration into the liquefier itself.
Conferences, Meetings and Public Engagement
CryoUsers Conference
CryoUsers started over 25 years ago as a forum to bring together technicians operating Helium liquefiers and Helium recovery systems in universities and research establishments, to network and share their operational experiences. The meeting has grown and now includes facility and laboratory cryogenics and is strongly supported by key industrial partners. The ethos is to promote training, cooperation, to share knowledge of Helium systems and Cryogenics across research establishments and industry.
CryoUsers 2024 will take place from the 2nd – 4th September at the University of Leeds at the Michael Sadler Building with Ensuite Halls accommodation very close by; breakfast, lunches and Mondays evening buffet will all be held at this venue.
For further info please visit the Cryousers page on the website of the British Cryogenic Council.
NMSUM
The Sample Environment group were pleased to able to attend NMSUM again this year, bringing their trade-stand style display with pressure cells, sample sticks, and the customary dilution refrigerator.
We were very thankful for the engagement from scientists and the user community, with many productive conversations occurring.
No Time to Chill
Chris showing how liquid nitrogen behaves by pouring it into a transparent beaker.
In February the STFC Public Engagement team hosted an event for schools titled ‘No Time to Chill’, which featured Cryogenics own Chris Lawson delivering an interactive liquid nitrogen show full of brittle bananas, crumbling flowers and levitating objects, it was great to demonstrate some exciting applications of cryogenics.
Staff
New Starter: Mulder
Mulder, the new addition to the Cryogenics Team.
We would like to welcome Mulder Goeks to the Sample Environment group as our newest helium recovery technician. Originally from the United States, Mulder has been a muon user at ISIS during his undergraduate studies in physics at Northern Michigan University. During his brief stint as a graduate student in Canada, his introduction to running a cryogenic helium dilution refrigerator at the TRIUMF neutron & muon facility led Mulder to discover his affinity for cryogenic systems, and he subsequently changed paths to pursue this passion. In his free time, Mulder enjoys baking, biking, and looking after a multitude of plants – he has a particular soft spot for begonias.
ANSTO Placement: Ross Price
Ross Price is currently undertaking a 3-month placement at the Australian neutron source, ANSTO. Here he has been working on developing new automation techniques for Cryogenic equipment.
For further information on these topics, or any other enquiries about Cryogenics at ISIS, please
contact the Cryogenics Team and visit the Cryogenics Team
website.
