HELIUM AS A SOURCE OF POWER.

HELIUM AS A SOURCE OF POWER.

• Helium (He) is a colourless, odourless, non-flammable and extremely unreactive noble gas with atomic number 2. It is the second-lightest element after hydrogen and has an exceptionally low boiling point of about −268.9°C (4.2 K), making it indispensable for ultra-low-temperature applications.

History and Background

• Helium was first detected through spectroscopy of the Sun in 1868, and its name derives from the Greek word Helios, meaning Sun; it was subsequently identified on Earth.
• Terrestrial helium is generated principally over geological time through the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium in rocks; alpha particles emitted during such decay acquire electrons and become helium atoms.
• Because helium is very light, helium reaching the atmosphere can eventually escape into space; therefore, economically recoverable supplies occur mainly in underground geological formations and certain natural-gas reservoirs.
• Commercial helium is consequently recovered largely as a by-product of natural-gas production, rather than being manufactured conventionally.

Principle and Technology