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~ LN2/LHe FACILITY ~

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The LN2/LHe Facility was established in June of 1975 expressly for the purpose of supporting research at the University of Wisconsin - Madison Campus.

  • Our location is on the College of Engineering Campus - Engineering Hall.
  • Our yearly cryogen sales are approximately 45,000 liters of LHe and 19,000 liters of LN2.
  • Other Services Supplied: Helium Gas Recovery and Cryogenic Consulting, Helium Leak Detection

    • NOTES:

    BILLINGS:
  • We do not accept checks, or credit cards.

    GENERAL:
  • We are not affiliated with the UW Materials Distribution Services!
  • We do not fill party balloons!
  • We do not consult regarding "Cryonics". . . Please do not ask!

    THERE IS A WORLD WIDE SHORTAGE OF HELIUM GAS! It is a non-renewable resource.

    • LN2/LHe FACILITY CHARGES:

    Please Note:
  • "LN2" means Liquid Nitrogen
  • "LHe" means Liquid Helium
  • "Internal" means U.W. Users
  • "External" means Non-U.W. Users ~ A company in the immediate Madison area, or visitors to the UW. Either must be supporting research at, or through the UW.


    LIQUID NITROGEN:

    Internal:
  • Less than 160 liters per transfer: $2.00/Liter (LN2 not transferred into a 160 liter dewar)
  • 160 Liter Dewar: $64.00
  • 180 Liter Dewar: $72.00

    External:
  • Less than 160 liters per transfer: $3.00/Liter (LN2 not transferred into a 160 liter dewar)
  • 160 Liter Dewar: $96.00
  • 180 Liter Dewar: $108.00

    General Information:
  • Minimum Volume Billed: 3 liters in a given month
  • All quantities are billed in 1 liter increments!
  • Self Service at the LN2 Facility
  • We Do Not Deliver LN2 Dewars!
  • We Do Not Rent LN2 Dewars!


    LIQUID HELIUM: Rates effective November 1, 2008

    LHe:
  • Internal: $7.50/Liter
  • External: $11.14/Liter

    Dewar Rental:
  • Internal: $6.00/Day
  • External: $8.91/Day

    Dewar Delivery Charges:
    INSIDE a four mile radius from the Facility:
  • Internal Rate: $6.50/Delivery (Includes dewar return)
  • External Rate: $9.66/Delivery

    OUTSIDE a four mile radius from the Facility:
    * Deliveries and Returns are charged a Minimum Rate of One Hour.
  • Internal Rates:
  • Delivery: $65.00/Hour
  • Return: $65.00/Hour

  • External Rate:
  • Delivery: $130.00/Hour
  • Return: $130.00/Hour

    Emergency Delivery Charges *:
    * Emergency Deliveries are charged a Minimum Rate of One Hour.
  • Internal:
  • Same Day - During Regular Working Hours: No Charge
  • Same Day - AFTER Regular Working Hours: $65.00/Hour
  • Weekends: $85.00/Hour
  • Holidays: $100.00/Hour

  • External:
  • Same Day - During Regular Working Hours: Appropriate Delivery Charge Applies
  • Same Day - AFTER Regular Working Hours: $130.00/Hour
  • Weekends: $150.00/Hour
  • Holidays: $165.00/Hour

    Contaminated Dewar Charges:
  • Against the full volume of the dewar.
  • Returned empty, but cold (77K, or lower): Plus 25% of full volume
  • Returned warm (above 77 K), or with a valve left open: Plus 45% of full volume

    Consulting Rates (Cryogenics and Helium Leak Detection):
  • Internal: $75.00/Hour
  • External: $150.00/Hour

    • LN2/LHe FACILITY EQUIPMENT DATA:

    LN2 FACILITY:

    LN2 Storage Tank: (LN2 Supplier: Airgas)
  • Capacity: 9200 gallons
  • Operating Pressure: 50 p.s.i.g.

    Transfer Systems: (Maximum Flow Capacity @ 1500 Liters/Day)
  • Rigid Vacuum Insulated Pipe (By: Minnesota Valley Engineering): 60 Feet Long
  • "SEMIFLEX" Vacuum Insulated Pipe (By: Vacuum Barrier Corp.): 600 Feet with Two User Stations, but expandable for a Third User.

    In-house LN2 Manifold:
  • Three Stations: Self-Service and User Friendly.



    LHe FACILITY:

    Helium Liquefier/Refrigerator:
  • We produce LHe with a Cryogenic Plants and Services (Division of Linde BOC Process Plants LLC), Model 1400 Helium Liquefier/Refrigerator, S/N 96. In addition to liquefying pure helium, it is equipped with an integral, make-up gas purifier and variable temperature refrigerator.

    Liquefier Capacity (with LN2 Precooling):
  • 28 Liters/Hour LHe with Pure Helium
  • 25 Liters/Hour LHe with the Purifier on Recovered Helium

    Purifier Capacity (with LN2 Precooling):
  • Removes Impurities Totaling Up To 20%

    Refrigerator Capacity (with LN2 precooling):
  • 500 watts @ 20 Kelvin
  • 100 watts @ 4.6 Kelvin
  • Variable Temperature of 4.6 watts to 24 watts

    Rotary Screw Compressor (By: Cryogenic Plants and Services):
  • Motor: 60 Hz, 3 phase, 460 volt, 90 kW
  • Compressor Throughput Capacity: 220 scfm, or 17.5 grams/sec.


    Helium Recovery Compressor (By: Bauer Compressors, Inc.):

    Model G21.50 (built on a K23.0G Block):
  • Motor: 60 Hz, 3 phase, 480 volt, 50 horsepower
  • Compressor Throughput Capacity: 44 scfm @ 2800 psig


    LHe Dewar Capacities (Outer Shell Construction):

    Storage Dewars Facility Storage Only :
  • Three @ 500 Liters/each (One Stainless Steel and Two Carbon Steel)

    Service Dewars User Service:
  • Two @ 500 Liters/each (Stainless Steel)
  • Six @ 250 Liters/each (Stainless Steel)
  • Seven @ 100 Liters/each (Seven Stainless Steel)
  • Six @ 65 Liters/each (Two Aluminum & Four Stainless Steel)
  • Two @ 58 Liters/each (Carbon Steel)
  • Four @ 35 Liters/each (Stainless Steel)


    In-house Recovery Bag Capacity (By: FlexiLiner Corp.):
  • One bag @ 1500 ft.3
  • One bag @ 500 ft.3


    Helium Storage:
  • Pure : 50,328 ft.3 @ 70oF & 3000 p.s.i.g.
  • Recovered: 57,605 ft.3 @ 70oF & 1500 p.s.i.g.

    Pure Helium Supplier: Linde, Inc. (Formerly BOC Gases)
    Purity as delivered: 99.999%

    • HELIUM RECOVERY SYSTEM ~ Departments and a few preliminary pictures

    LN2/LHe Facility
    1339A Engr. Hall
    1415 Engineering Dr.
    Madison, WI 53706-1607

    Copyright 2007 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

    Last Updated: 11/13/09
    Webmaster

    DO NOT place LHe orders by e-mail. Please call our Facility telephone number.

    Telephone: (608) 263-5473