Wilhelmsen Ships Service
Guide to gases: HELIUM
Eddy
Scheepers
Guide
to gases - Helium
Guide to gases: HELIUM
Eddy Scheepers
After hydrogen (H2), helium (H
3
0.085
kg/m
)
After hydrogen (H2), helium (He) is the lightest gas (0.169 kg/m3 versusand
thus
is much
lighter than a
3
and thus is much lighter than air (1.29 kg/m ). The result is that helium and
will rise
in contained
air
when
(e.g. in a
and when contained (e.g. in a balloon) will exert a considerable upwards
force.
Archimedes
figured out this pr
Archimedes figured out this principle and we now use it in helium-inflated balloons.
Another very important proper
Another very important property is its inertness; it practically does not react
chemically with any other chem
chemically with any other chemical. The third and final key property is the
size:atom
a (the smallest atom
helium
helium atom (the smallest atom there is approx 0.07 Å = 0.000 000 000small
7 mm)
is
that itsoeasily diffuses thro
small that it easily diffuses through materials and is thus very suitable when
checking
for leaks.
Helium is practically
for leaks. Helium is practically odourless and colourless.
Helium is a gas that forms onl
Helium is a gas that forms only a tiny percentage of normal atmospheric
air. Thecomposition of air is:
average
average composition of air is:
Nitrogen
78.09%
Nitrogen
78.09%
Oxygen
20.94%
Oxygen
20.94%
Argon
0.93%
Argon
0.93%
CO2
0.033%
CO2
0.033%
Neon
0.0018%
Neon
0.0018%
Helium
0.0005%
Helium
0.0005%
Clearly, air is not a good sourc
Clearly, air is not a good source for the production of helium gas. Fortunately,
there
are possibilities
to extract it fro
are possibilities to extract it from natural gas. Some wells produce gas helium
with upand
to 2%
one well is known
helium and one well is known to produce up to 7% helium. Production is
done
bythen
cooling
and fractional distill
by cooling and fractional distillation. World production is about 169 Mill of
cubic
gasmetres
per annum.
of gas per annum.
Supply to customers takes pla
Supply to customers takes place in two distinctive forms: high pressurecryogenic
cylinders liquid
or
(-269 ºC = 4.2
cryogenic liquid (-269 ºC = 4.2 K). Which method the end-user will choose
depends
on the
application helium is ne
on the application helium is needed for. Important hereby is the purity of
the helium.
Typical
applications:
Typical applications:
•
Diving, in particular, divin
•
Diving, in particular, diving to great depths (100-150 m). Mixtures of helium
andin different conce
oxygen
oxygen in different concentrations are used (up to 4% Oxygen). Inertness
and size are the main
particle
particle size are the main drivers in this application. The purity of the helium
used is a medium grade.
used is a medium grade.
•
Production of microproce
•
Production of microprocessors and related material. The most important
property is the inertness
property is the inertness of helium. Here normally the highest purities
used. gas during wel
• are
Shielding
•
Shielding gas during welding. Inertness but also its effect on heat transfer
and of the arc are t
ionisation
ionisation of the arc are the main reasons for choosing medium purity
helium.
•
Scientific instruments suc
•
Scientific instruments such as gas chromatographs use high purity helium
an gas.
inertascarrier
inert carrier gas.
•
And finally, in balloons to
•
And finally, in balloons to ensure that they rise (lighter than air). The Hindenburg
(famous German Zeppel
(famous German Zeppelin) was filled with hydrogen which is extremelyflammable. The Germans
flammable. The Germans were aware of this but due to export restrictions
prior War II, they had
to World
to World War II, they had very limited access to helium. If helium had been
used, the Hindenburg dis
used, the Hindenburg disaster most probably would have ended quite differently.
differently.
the Zeppelins. They would work perfectly well with hydrogen, but the
flammability remains a problem. Helium-filled balloons, because of its inert
properties, do not have this problem; they are inherently safe. However, the
standard latex balloons do not hold the helium very well; within several hours
large amounts of helium will have diffused through the latex. Balloons made of
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Ships Service
plastic foil with metalized inner coatings can withstand the diffusion much better.
This all does not mean that there are NO health risks when helium is being used.
At parties it is quite common to inhale and than to speak. The pitch of the voice
changes to a higher level (Donald Duck voice) because the speed of sound in helium
differs considerably (= much higher) compared to normal air.
The balloons we use during parties and festivities are just smaller versions of
the Zeppelins.
Is it then
safe to do They
this? would work perfectly well with hydrogen, but the
flammability
remains
problem.
Helium-filled
balloons,
because of
its inert
Two main risks occur: first ofa all
by inhaling
helium. The
blood transports
carbon
dinot have
this problem;
they arefrom
inherently
oxide properties,
to the lungsdo
where
it is exchanged
for oxygen
the air.safe.
WhenHowever,
the lungs the
are
filled with
helium
it limits
the possibility
of absorbing
oxygen
into the
blood
because
standard
latex
balloons
do not hold
the helium
very well;
within
several
hours
there large
is lessamounts
oxygen in
lungswill
and
additionally
actuallythe
lowers
theBalloons
oxygen made of
ofthe
helium
have
diffused itthrough
latex.
contents
in the
even
more
becausecan
oxygen
from the
moves
intobetter.
plastic
foilbloodstream
with metalized
inner
coatings
withstand
the blood
diffusion
much
the lungs. The result is that the user loses consciousness very quickly without any
warning.
We need
oxygen
to there
function,
repeated
usewhen
of helium
in is
a short
This all does
not mean
that
are thus
NO health
risks
helium
beingperiod
used.
leads
to
oxygen
deficiency.
At parties it is quite common to inhale and than to speak. The pitch of the voice
changes to a higher level (Donald Duck voice) because the speed of sound in helium
Most
will understand
problem,
but there
is a greater
differspeople
considerably
(= muchthis
higher)
compared
to normal
air. risk and this happens
in particular when people inhale helium straight from the cylinder (even when a
regulator
issafe
mounted).
Regulators reduce the cylinder pressure (typical 200 bar =
Is it then
to do
The balloons
wethis?
use during parties and festivities are just smaller versions of
2900
psi) torisks
lower
values
(2 of
bar
29inhaling
psi and helium.
up). When
place
their mouths
Two main
occur:
first
all=by
Thepeople
blood
transports
carbon ditheonZeppelins.
They
would
work
perfectly
wellextremely
with
hydrogen,
but
thewith
directly
the
outlet
of
the
regulators,
the
lungs
are
quickly
filled
oxideflammability
to the lungs remains
where it aisproblem.
exchanged
for
oxygen
from
the
air.
When
the
lungs
Helium-filled
balloons,
because
of its
inertwillare
helium
under
too
high
pressure
for
the
lungs
to
handle.
The
pressure
in
the
lungs
filled with
helium do
it limitshave
the possibility
of absorbing
oxygen into
the blood
because
properties,
thislung
problem;
arehandle.
inherently
safe.
However,
the
rise quickly
to levels not
that the fine
tissue they
can not
All standard
regulators
there standard
is less oxygen
in
the
lungs
and
additionally
it
actually
lowers
the
oxygen
do not
holdable
the to
helium
very
well;
several hours
used during thelatex
fillingballoons
of balloons
are not
handle
such
lowwithin
pressure
contents
inamounts
the bloodstream
even
more diffused
becausethrough
oxygenthe
from
the blood
moves
into
large
of
helium
will
have
latex.
Balloons
made
differences and will supply much more gas. The lungs are made up of alveoli and
areof
the lungs.
The
result
is
that
the
user
loses
consciousness
very
quickly
without
any
plastic foil
with metalized
coatings
canofwithstand
much
better.
not designed
to handle
this highinner
pressure.
Values
0.1 bar = the
1.5 diffusion
psi is given
as the
warning. We need oxygen to function, thus repeated use of helium in a short period
maximum pressure in the lungs. Higher pressures can lead to bursting of the alveoli
leads
oxygen
deficiency.
This allto
does
meanbleeding
that there
are lungs
NO health
risks when
helium
is being used.
which
leads
tonot
internal
in the
and almost
immediate
death.
At parties it is quite common to inhale and than to speak. The pitch of the voice
Most people
understand
this problem,
but there
is a the
greater
riskofand
thisin
happens
changes
to awill
higher
level (Donald
Duck voice)
because
speed
sound
helium
in
particular
when
people
inhale
helium
straight
from
the
cylinder
(even
when
a
differs considerably (= much higher) compared to normal air.
regulator is mounted). Regulators reduce the cylinder pressure (typical 200 bar =
2900
psi) safe
to lower
values
Is
it then
to do
this?(2 bar = 29 psi and up). When people place their mouths
directly
on risks
the outlet
the of
regulators,
the lungs
areThe
extremely
quickly filled
with diTwo
main
occur:offirst
all by inhaling
helium.
blood transports
carbon
helium
under
too
high
pressure
for
the
lungs
to
handle.
The
pressure
in
the
lungs are
will
oxide to the lungs where it is exchanged for oxygen from the air. When the lungs
rise quickly
to levels
that the
the possibility
fine lung tissue
can notoxygen
handle.into
All standard
filled
with helium
it limits
of absorbing
the bloodregulators
because
used
during
the
filling
of
balloons
are
not
able
to
handle
such
low
pressure
there is less oxygen in the lungs and additionally it actually lowers the oxygen
differences
andbloodstream
will supply much
The lungs
arefrom
made
of alveoli
and
contents
in the
evenmore
moregas.
because
oxygen
theup
blood
moves
intoare
not lungs.
designed
handle
this high
pressure.
Values of 0.1 bar
= 1.5
psi iswithout
given as
the
Thetoresult
is that
the user
loses consciousness
very
quickly
anythe
maximum
pressure
in
the
lungs.
Higher
pressures
can
lead
to
bursting
of
the
alveoli
warning. We need oxygen to function, thus repeated use of helium in a short period
which to
leads
to internal
bleeding in the lungs and almost immediate death.
leads
oxygen
deficiency.
Most people will understand this problem, but there is a greater risk and this happens
in particular when people inhale helium straight from the cylinder (even when a
regulator is mounted). Regulators reduce the cylinder pressure (typical 200 bar =
2900 psi) to lower values (2 bar = 29 psi and up). When people place their mouths
directly on the outlet of the regulators, the lungs are extremely quickly filled with
helium under too high pressure for the lungs to handle. The pressure in the lungs will
rise quickly to levels that the fine lung tissue can not handle. All standard regulators
used during the filling of balloons are not able to handle such low pressure
differences and will supply much more gas. The lungs are made up of alveoli and are
not designed to handle this high pressure. Values of 0.1 bar = 1.5 psi is given as the
maximum pressure in the lungs. Higher pressures can lead to bursting of the alveoli
which leads to internal bleeding in the lungs and almost immediate death.
leads to oxygen deficiency.
Most people will understand this problem, but there is a greater risk and this happens
in particular when people inhale helium straight from the cylinder (even when a
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Ships Service
regulator is mounted).
Regulators reduce the cylinder pressure (typical 200 bar =
2900 psi) to lower values (2 bar = 29 psi and up). When people place their mouths
directly on the outlet of the regulators, the lungs are extremely quickly filled with
helium under too high pressure for the lungs to handle. The pressure in the lungs will
rise quickly to levels that the fine lung tissue can not handle. All standard regulators
used during the filling of balloons are not able to handle such low pressure
differences and will supply much more gas. The lungs are made up of alveoli and are
not designed to handle this high pressure. Values of 0.1 bar = 1.5 psi is given as the
maximum pressure in the lungs. Higher pressures can lead to bursting of the alveoli
which leads to internal bleeding in the lungs and almost immediate death.
To summarize, helium is a widely used gas with very special and interesting
properties. Be always aware and careful when using helium; do not underestimate
the risks. And finally do not inhale helium to change the pitch of your voice. Before
you know it, a visit to the hospital will be your next “port” of call.
Wilhelmsen Ships Service supplies balloon grade helium, widely used onboard cruise
ships for inflating standard size balloons. One 40 litre cylinder filled with 200 bar
helium will inflate approx. 375 balloons.
For more information on this subject, please read the publications of the European
gas industry: EIGA position paper: http://www.eiga.eu/fileadmin/docs_pubs/PP-24Dec2008.pdf
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