Sustainability

Keeping science cool: Tackling the helium crisis

UM invests in sustainable solutions for science research.

Tim Vos and Michael Opyr working inside the Helium recycling room.
Estimated Read Time:
3 minutes
Michael Opyr, MCAL Technician; Timothy Vos, Technician and Storekeeper
Michael Opyr, MCAL Technician; Timothy Vos, Technician and Storekeeper
Estimated Read Time:
3 minutes
By

Kimia Shadkami

One of the most important research and teaching facilities at the University of Manitoba relies on a critical and non-renewable resource: helium.

The Prairie Regional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Facility in the Department of Chemistry helps researchers study the structure and behaviour of molecules and materials. The facility supports industrial partners and academics. It also gives University of Manitoba students valuable hands-on learning opportunities.

The critical role of helium

At the heart of the NMR facility are 4 superconducting NMR magnets. Their powerful magnetic fields must remain active at all times, even when no experiments are running. To make this happen, the magnets are cooled down to extremely low temperatures using liquid helium. This keeps the materials inside the magnets superconducting and allows their magnetic fields to remain active around the clock. 

In the Faculty of Science, most of the helium we use keeps the superconducting magnets in our NMR instruments at an ultra-cold temperature. This helium is slowly lost from the NMRs over time and needs to be replenished.

Dr. Brian Mark, Dean, Faculty of Science

Brian Mark wearing blue tie and blue coat smiling at the camera.
Dr. Brian Mark, Dean, Faculty of Science

According to Dr. Scott Kroeker, a professor in the chemistry department, any disruption to this cooling system can cause a sudden loss of the magnetic field and potentially damage the instrument. Scientists call this a “quench”. Very often it is not possible to restore the magnetic fields after a quench.

This is why a reliable supply of liquid helium is critical to the facility’s operation. However, liquid helium is a non-renewable mineral, and we are currently in a global helium supply crisis.

The last helium supply crisis in 2022 resulted in difficulty obtaining the helium that we need to keep our instruments active and increasing costs, which persist today. And our sustainability efforts have been focused in the past 2 to 3 years on capturing the liquid helium that boils out of these magnets all day, every day.

Dr. David Davidson, NMR Facility Manager

David Davidson wearing an orange shirt smiling at the camera.
Dr. David Davidson, NMR Facility Manager

Building a sustainable solution

To tackle this challenge, the Faculty of Science, a large external donation, the UM Green Investment Fund, the Department of Chemistry, and individual researchers have all contributed to the project of helium recovery used by the NMR facility.

With a new $5 million NMR instrument joining our facility — requiring 1,000 litres of liquid helium just to start up — protecting that investment means securing a stable supply. Our Faculty of Science helium recovery system is the practical answer: lower long-term costs, less exposure to supply disruptions, and a sustainability solution that genuinely pays off.

Krystyna Koczanski, Associate Dean of Administration, Faculty of Science

Krystyna Koczanski wearing a black blouse with ruffles with trees background smiling at the camera.
Krystyna Koczanski, Associate Dean of Administration, Faculty of Science

How does helium recovery work?

In keeping the 4 superconducting magnets cool, the liquid helium boils out of the cryostats. A cryostat is equipment used to maintain a constant, extremely low temperature. The helium gas travels through a network of pipes to a room where it can be converted back into liquid helium. The piping system helps protect the 4 sensitive magnets to keep the recovery process running safely.  

The helium gas will be compressed before moving to the next stage. The gas is then purified using a large bath of liquid nitrogen before being turned back into liquid helium.  

The technical team at the Faculty of Science ensures the instruments are running correctly, fixes problems as they arise, and transfers liquid helium back to the magnets.

The NMR facility plays a key role in advancing discoveries in chemistry and training the next generation of researchers.

Pipes that are part of the Helium recycling.
Helium recycling room.
Piping system, helium recovery room

“Helium is a finite resource on our planet that is vital to numerous advanced technologies, including rocketry, X-ray optics, ultra-low temperature scientific research, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and more,” adds Dr. Brian Mark, Dean of the Faculty of Science, “The new helium recycling system will now allow us to recapture more than 85% of the helium that escapes from the NMR magnets. This will dramatically reduce our consumption of a precious resource and will reduce cost over time as helium prices continue to increase.”

To learn more and see the equipment in action, we invite you to watch the full video on the Faculty of Science's YouTube channel.

Boilerplate: sustainability

We pursue sustainability in its many forms—societal, cultural, economic, environmental. Building a sustainable future is among the commitments you’ll find in MomentUM: Leading change together, the University of Manitoba’s 2024–2029 strategic plan.