Award Abstract # 2305187
Equipment: Helium Recovery Equipment: Acquisition of Helium Recovery and Liquefaction Hardware for the University of Kansas

NSF Org: CHE
Division Of Chemistry
Recipient: UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CENTER FOR RESEARCH INC
Initial Amendment Date: March 27, 2023
Latest Amendment Date: March 27, 2023
Award Number: 2305187
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Colby Foss
cfoss@nsf.gov
 (703)292-5327
CHE
 Division Of Chemistry
MPS
 Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Start Date: May 1, 2023
End Date: April 30, 2026 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $500,000.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $500,000.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2023 = $500,000.00
History of Investigator:
  • Justin Douglas (Principal Investigator)
    justindouglas@ku.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: University of Kansas Center for Research Inc
2385 IRVING HILL RD
LAWRENCE
KS  US  66045-7563
(785)864-3441
Sponsor Congressional District: 01
Primary Place of Performance: University of Kansas Center for Research Inc
2385 IRVING HILL RD
Lawrence
KS  US  66045-7552
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
01
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): SSUJB3GSH8A5
Parent UEI: SSUJB3GSH8A5
NSF Program(s): Chemical Measurement & Imaging,
EPSCoR Co-Funding
Primary Program Source: 01002324DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 9150, 128Z
Program Element Code(s): 688000, 915000
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.049, 47.083

ABSTRACT

With support from the Division of Chemistry and co-funding from the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, Dr. Justin Douglas at the University of Kansas is implementing a helium recovery system that will capture, purify, and liquefy helium gas exhaust produced by the normal operation of nine scientific instruments used in research with broad societal impacts in fields such as chemistry, engineering, and pharmacy. For example, the superconducting magnets of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometers need periodic refills of liquid helium to maintain persistent magnetic fields. Severe shortages of helium have forced the mothballing of some instruments, which adversely impacts many NSF-funded and other projects throughout the region. Responsible resource utilization that minimizes waste by recycling gaseous helium exhaust protects present research activities and preserves this non-renewable resource, enabling future generations to continue to advance national and global health, prosperity, and welfare. Furthermore, information about the requested equipment is being integrated into a comprehensive outreach effort to engage individuals from underrepresented groups, recruit and retain faculty, staff and students, and enhance the classroom and research environment at the University of Kansas.

The nine instruments being served by the helium recovery equipment are distributed across four separate buildings. Successful execution of this project demonstrates the feasibility of a hub-and-spoke model for other institutions needing to recover helium from dispersed devices. This project involves 1) fabrication of manifolds using off-the-shelf parts to collect helium exhaust without disturbing instrument operation; 2) short-term storage of helium in 8500-liter bags; 3) compression of collected gas into high-pressure cylinders for transport to a centralized facility on campus; 4) purification and liquefaction of the gas; and 5) reuse of the resulting liquid helium in scientific instruments. In one year of operation, it is estimated that ~2,400 liters of liquid helium will be recycled by this system. This recovered helium will be used to refill superconducting NMR magnets and to supply the cryostats of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Magnetic Circular Dichroism spectrometers. This helium recovery system will secure essential supplies for scientific instrumentation that plays a crucial role in NSF-funded and other research projects.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

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