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Helium: Its Creation, Discovery, History, Production, Properties and Uses
This is the fascinating story of the element helium.
The book is divided into six sections,
Creation and Distribution
The creation of helium during the big bang and in stars. Its distribution in outer space, on the planets and on the moon. Its creation on Earth through radioactive decay, its migration and entrapment, presence in the atmosphere and escape into space.
Discovery and History
The discovery of helium in the sun and on Earth. Its journey from a useless oddity, through the great rigid airships of the 1930s and the submarine-hunting blimps of World War II, to an essential tool in industry, medicine and research. Historic helium plants, the US national helium reserve, and today’s helium shortages.
Production
The processes by which helium is extracted from natural gas and other sources, and its refining and distribution. The daunting prospect of extracting helium from the atmosphere in the future. Worldwide helium production. Helium resources and reserves.
Properties
The physical properties of gaseous, liquid, superfluid, solid and plasma helium and the alpha particle. Chemical properties and helium compounds.
Uses and Conservation
The uses of gaseous and liquid helium and the alpha particle. Refrigeration and cryopumping. Global consumption, conservation, recycling and substitutes.
Helium-3
The creation, distribution, discovery, production and properties of the rare isotope helium-3. Its current and prospective uses.
8.5” x 11” / 21.6 x 28 cm. 402 pages, with 358 drawings and photos.
895 references (most available online) and 269 recommendations for further reading.
The book is divided into six sections,
Creation and Distribution
The creation of helium during the big bang and in stars. Its distribution in outer space, on the planets and on the moon. Its creation on Earth through radioactive decay, its migration and entrapment, presence in the atmosphere and escape into space.
Discovery and History
The discovery of helium in the sun and on Earth. Its journey from a useless oddity, through the great rigid airships of the 1930s and the submarine-hunting blimps of World War II, to an essential tool in industry, medicine and research. Historic helium plants, the US national helium reserve, and today’s helium shortages.
Production
The processes by which helium is extracted from natural gas and other sources, and its refining and distribution. The daunting prospect of extracting helium from the atmosphere in the future. Worldwide helium production. Helium resources and reserves.
Properties
The physical properties of gaseous, liquid, superfluid, solid and plasma helium and the alpha particle. Chemical properties and helium compounds.
Uses and Conservation
The uses of gaseous and liquid helium and the alpha particle. Refrigeration and cryopumping. Global consumption, conservation, recycling and substitutes.
Helium-3
The creation, distribution, discovery, production and properties of the rare isotope helium-3. Its current and prospective uses.
8.5” x 11” / 21.6 x 28 cm. 402 pages, with 358 drawings and photos.
895 references (most available online) and 269 recommendations for further reading.
402 pages, Paperback
Published June 5, 2022
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 28, 2022
Helium
is comprehensive but very readable. It flows in a way that one can sit and read the book from start to end.
The discovery and history section is especially fascinating. The story of its discovery in the sun and later on Earth is undoubtedly the most intriguing of any element, and this book corrects the myths that have long surrounded it. The story of its production and use begins with an idea to replace explosive, hydrogen-filled military blimps in World War I, and winds through the giant flying aircraft-carriers of the 1930s, Zeppelin's desire to obtain helium for the Hindenburg and its sister ship, the US Navy's anti-submarine blimps of World War II that escorted 89,000 ships with the loss of only one vessel to enemy action, and the importance of helium to the space race and the cold war. Looking to the future, the Helium-3 section cuts through the popular press' hype and fantasy about fusion energy, to reveal the facts.
The book provides enough detail to educate the reader on any aspect without getting too complicated, but offers references and suggestions for further reading for those who wish to investigate further. I highly recommend it for students, for those in the natural gas and industrial gas businesses, and for any helium user who wants to know more about it.
David Dennington, Author of The Airshipmen .
The discovery and history section is especially fascinating. The story of its discovery in the sun and later on Earth is undoubtedly the most intriguing of any element, and this book corrects the myths that have long surrounded it. The story of its production and use begins with an idea to replace explosive, hydrogen-filled military blimps in World War I, and winds through the giant flying aircraft-carriers of the 1930s, Zeppelin's desire to obtain helium for the Hindenburg and its sister ship, the US Navy's anti-submarine blimps of World War II that escorted 89,000 ships with the loss of only one vessel to enemy action, and the importance of helium to the space race and the cold war. Looking to the future, the Helium-3 section cuts through the popular press' hype and fantasy about fusion energy, to reveal the facts.
The book provides enough detail to educate the reader on any aspect without getting too complicated, but offers references and suggestions for further reading for those who wish to investigate further. I highly recommend it for students, for those in the natural gas and industrial gas businesses, and for any helium user who wants to know more about it.
David Dennington, Author of The Airshipmen .
Displaying 1 of 1 review