Transportation, storage, safety and other important things about helium

Helium, the price of which in our time is in a wide range, and the possibility of purchase is available from different companies (admittedly, and on different terms), is important for a significant list of areas. Medicine, science, engineering, automotive, aircraft and rocket engineering, refrigeration, chromatography and even the food industry all require gaseous or liquid helium. If you operate in one of these areas and want to buy helium, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with additional information about it beforehand.

Basic things which you should to know about helium

Helium is non-flammable, non-toxic and non-explosive. As a gaseous form, it is physiologically inert and poses no danger to humans. It is also safe for the external environment, so the residues in the cylinders do not need to be neutralized and disposed of. Being much lighter than air, it dissipates in the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. It is allowed to be used at mass events, in places of mass gathering of people: at concert venues, in premises where holidays are celebrated, in shops, at stadiums during various sports events, etc.

All this leads to a certain opinion: if everything is so smooth, you can not be interested in security technology and related issues. Is it really like that? In general, yes, but there are nuances that we suggest you learn.

Key risks:

• provoking suffocation when air is replaced and liquefied (the danger lies in the impossibility of controlling the volume/presence of the substance, since at normal temperature it has no color and taste-aromatic parameters);
• probability of frostbite of the skin and eyes with liquid helium;
• rapid asphyxia when inhaling gaseous material under high pressure;
• the ability to solidify various gases and clog, thus, the unloading channels, clogging the safety fittings.

We transport and store helium correctly

The substance must be transported and stored in special containers: gaseous in brown steel gas cylinders, liquid in Dewar containers.

Rules of transportation, storage and use:

• transport by road or rail transport in compliance with the requirements on each of them;
• ensure proper ventilation of the premises;
• prevent damage to containers;
• use appropriate safety devices;
• do not allow contact of liquid helium with air and gases;
• maintain cleanliness of equipment for working with liquid helium;
• keep cylinders vertically, do not place anything over them that could fall or roll;
• make sure there is enough space between the cylinders; /
• prevent proximity to combustible materials, sources of fire;
• do not heat or throw the helium container.

Long-term storage of cylinders with helium should be carried out in dry, warm and well-ventilated rooms or outdoors under a tent cover, providing protection from the sun and rain. Optimum temperature – no more than 50 ° C. If the cylinder is not supposed to be used for a certain time, a safety iron cap should be put on it.

To summarize:

helium is safe and non-toxic if, when dealing with it, be aware of its properties and follow simple rules. Otherwise, quite negative consequences are possible. Do not neglect your safety and the people around you. Be vigilant and careful – and the use of the material will please the result, and will not cause opposite emotions or, even worse, lead to irreparable.