The University of Guelph has installed a helium recovery system that improves resource efficiency, reduces operational costs, and ensures a reliable helium supply for critical research.
Spanning the Science Complex and MacNaughton Building, the system connects six superconducting Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometers to a central collection point in the Science Complex basement. Tubing captures evaporated helium from the NMR magnets, which is then purified and re-liquefied for reuse.
“This innovative system enables the University to significantly reduce its helium budget,” says Dr. Vladimir Ladizhansky, professor in the Department of Physics, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. “It is essential to keep our NMR instruments operational, which are crucial for research across the university.”
Installed in May 2023, the system supports the cooling needs of superconducting magnets in NMR instruments. These magnets require very low temperatures, minus 269°C or below, to stay in a superconducting state, with ultra-cold liquid helium playing a critical role as the refrigerant maintaining these temperatures.
Without recapture, the helium used in NMR instruments would evaporate and require constant replenishment.
“Helium is non-renewable, globally scarce, and increasingly costly,” says Sameer Al-Abdul-Wahid, manager of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Centre. “Constant replenishment of the liquid helium in our magnets is vital to avoid quenching, a sudden loss of the magnetic field, which is both costly and potentially hazardous.
“By implementing a helium recovery system, we are safeguarding both resources and expenses.”
During helium shortages, suppliers often prioritize MRI needs in healthcare, which use helium in a similar way. The helium recovery system provides a buffer against these supply uncertainties, enhancing the university's self-sufficiency.
Now, with this technology, U of G requires only about six to nine per cent of its previous annual helium volume, significantly reducing the need for new purchases and saving the University over $135,000 per year.
“Having NMR technology is essential to the University’s research mission,” says Ladizhansky. “Ensuring a stable helium supply helps protect our research capabilities and supports our graduate students and research capacity – our top priorities.”
The Government of Canada's Research Support Fund is an important source of funding for support of research facilities, research resources, management and administration of the University of Guelph's research enterprise, regulatory requirements and intellectual property and knowledge mobilization.