Helium Liquefiers

Standard and Optional Components

GWR Instruments, Inc. manufactures simple, reliable, and inexpensive systems for producing and storing liquid helium in any location. The basic liquefier configuration consists of a 4-Kelvin GM cryocooler, helium compressor, and ultra-efficient storage Dewar. Optional smart controllers, gas recovery systems, gas purification systems, and gas monitoring systems are also available. For remote locations, electrical power generation solutions are available as well.

Basic Configuration

The 4-Kelvin cryocooler resides in the neck of the Dewar where it liquefies the gas. The liquid can be stored in the Dewar's belly either for short periods of time or indefinitely until needed. A custom designed helium transfer tube is used to transfer the liquid to the operator's equipment. This combination of simple operation, field serviceability, low power consumption and low-cost represents a major advance in helium liquefiers.

Stores Helium as Compressed Gas

The helium gas used in GWR Liquefiers does not need to be high purity and can be supplied either from industrial grade gas cylinders or from recovery systems. A typical 244 cubic foot gas cylinder generates 9.8 liters of liquid helium. Helium can therefore be shipped and stored as gas until needed, thus eliminating the high loss rates and high costs normally accompany the use of liquid helium.

Reliabile Hardware

These extremely reliable systems operate with very little maintenance. Scheduled maintenance every 10,000 hours of operation per coldhead and every 30,000 hours of operation per compressor adsorber may be done by the swapping of components in the field without special training.

Standard Configurations

Two standard models are available. The GWR-3/40 has a storage capacity of 42 liters and can liquefy greater than 3 liters/day at 60 Hz (greater than 2.5 liters per day at 50 Hz) with a 1.3 kW He compressor. The GWR-8/80 has a storage capacity of 80 liters and can liquefy greater than 8 liters per day at 60 Hz (greater than 7 liters per day at 50 Hz) with a 4.5 KW He compressor.

Custom Configurations

Custom configurations capable of larger liquefaction rates are available per customer requirements.