WHAT THE HELIUM????

[MikeFarm]

Oh dear ...

James said "Hydrogen molecule is smaller than Helium (and is manufactured) but it sure is dangerous."

Yes it's dangerous but at STP hydrogen comes as a molecule as H2 and He comes as a single atom and it's *smaller* than a H2 molecule. In fact He diffuses very fast out of most "gas tight" fabrics, muc faster than H2 so its easier to use H2 if you don't worry about the safety aspects. H2 has better lifting ability than He also.
Just being pedantic tonight on little errors

 

[k0ua]

Oh dear ...

James said "Hydrogen molecule is smaller than Helium (and is manufactured) but it sure is dangerous."

Yes it's dangerous but at STP hydrogen comes as a molecule as H2 and He comes as a single atom and it's *smaller* than a H2 molecule. In fact He diffuses very fast out of most "gas tight" fabrics, muc faster than H2 so its easier to use H2 if you don't worry about the safety aspects. H2 has better lifting ability than He also.
Just being pedantic tonight on little errors

You got me there. I was referring to the atomic weight, but I did say smaller. In any case if you use hydrogen in your zeppelin, you best keep your asbestos suit handy

James K0UA

 

[MikeFarm]

Hiya James

You are knowledgeable about a bit of chemistry, I can tell from your posts. Saw a doco just a few nights ago on the UK's attempts to make a Zepplin just before WW1. They stuffed it up a bit. It bent in the wind gusts as it was coming out of its hangar. The Germans used floating hangars which could be rotated to face downwind. I knew they used cows appendix (caecum) as the material, what didn't know was that the Germans used millions of cows to make their airships. Farmers had to give up their cows for the war effort.

Mike

 

[k0ua]

Hiya James

You are knowledgeable about a bit of chemistry, I can tell from your posts. Saw a doco just a few nights ago on the UK's attempts to make a Zepplin just before WW1. They stuffed it up a bit. It bent in the wind gusts as it was coming out of its hangar. The Germans used floating hangars which could be rotated to face downwind. I knew they used cows bladders as the material, what didn't know was that the Germans used millions of cows to make their airships. Farmers had to give up their cows for the war effort.

Mike

Well I did not know that, Holy Cow! Yes I paid some attention in High School Chem. While I don't have a real Chemistry background, I find it interesting, especially organic chemistry. We made a little ethanol in High School chemistry class, but weren't allowed to drink it We also made up quite a few different esters, and some nylon fibers.. or some kind of nasty looking acetate fiber we pulled of the surface of the liquid. Of course I cannot remember even half of what was presented as it was so long ago, but a little of it stuck.

James K0UA

 

[MikeFarm]

Now I'll correct myself, I said "I knew they used cows bladders" - I have changed that to the correct part of the cows anatomy that they used. In the doco they showed pics of hundreds of women in a factory cleaning the caecum part of the intestine from the fat layer. It's quite transparent, very thin and strong. It's probably the same bit that Casanova used

Mike

 

[forgeblast]

New high-tech airships are rising in Southern California - Los Angeles Times

Not since the waning days of World War II have the mammoth wooden blimp hangars at the former military base in Tustin seen as much airship manufacturing work as they do today.

Inside the 17-story structures that rise above southern Orange County, Worldwide Aeros Corp. is building a blimp-like airship designed for the military to carry tons of cargo to remote areas around the world.

Not sure if this article was posted.

 

[k0ua]

Now I'll correct myself, I said "I knew they used cows bladders" - I have changed that to the correct part of the cows anatomy that they used. In the doco they showed pics of hundreds of women in a factory cleaning the caecum part of the intestine from the fat layer. It's quite transparent, very thin and strong. It's probably the same bit that Casanova used

Mike

Didn't Casanavo use that similar part, but from a sheep instead of a cow?

 

[mvwicker]

Helium is a byproduct of radioactive decay -- alpha particles are helium nuclei. This process has been going on underground for eons as uranium decayed into lead, that is why it is found in certain natural gas deposits. Once we use that up, we may have to make our own. The gas accumulates in certain types of nuclear reactors:

ScienceDirect.com - Journal of Nuclear Materials - Helium production in reactor materials: Review paper

(Quite a DIY project, eh? Make your own elements!)

 

[NHmitch]

Helium is a byproduct of radioactive decay -- alpha particles are helium nuclei. This process has been going on underground for eons as uranium decayed into lead, that is why it is found in certain natural gas deposits. Once we use that up, we may have to make our own. The gas accumulates in certain types of nuclear reactors:

ScienceDirect.com - Journal of Nuclear Materials - Helium production in reactor materials: Review paper

(Quite a DIY project, eh? Make your own elements!)

That is very true. I am studying radiography in school, and India actually has the highest concentrations of uranium in the world, and they also have the worst exposure to ionizing radiation. India might be good source.

 

[Pete Judd]

I have been aware of this for a lot of years, Yes, I am a Nerd, but not a greener. A very limited thing, and used for s many things other than talking funney after inhailing it.

 

[creekbend]

Didn't Casanavo use that similar part, but from a sheep instead of a cow?

I haven't done any research on the subject, but what I recall, most earlier products were made from Sheep-Lamb.. The item was used over and over and placed in a container with alcohol in the bedroom. At least, this was the method utilized during the Elizabeth-ton era and earlier times throughout history in various societies.

 

[creekbend]

I decided to do some research to see if my memory did serve me correctly. Lambskin Condoms – What Are Lambskin Condoms

 

[Depmandog]

I decided to do some research to see if my memory did serve me correctly. Lambskin Condoms – What Are Lambskin Condoms

Is it me, or the impending seasonal change from a severely hot and dry summer to a hopefully cooler fall, or a slight deviation of the rotational axis of the earth, I don't know, but I have noticed the posts of the TBN collective have ..... well......ventured into the land of bizarro.

First it was the Dealership Nightmare thread and now this one. Put it this way. I sure didn't expect to read about lambskin condoms on a He thread this morning . Keep it coming guys. I am wide awake now

 

[chopped]

:laughing::laughing: Well I was thinking the same thing,In fact just yeterday i was wondering where the posts that I usually enjoy have been. I hadnt heard from Eddie Walker in awile so I searched to be sure he was still with us here and sure enough he is and posting.:thumbsup::thumbsup: I always enjoy his posts.So maybe it how we are searching and selecting what we choose to read? But I find them all good.I have learnt alot from here..So i will tka ethe bizarre and the non ...

 

[k0ua]

It's thread drift, or mission creep or something Dean Heck it isn't hot anymore it is cold now in the mornings. That is got to be what it is.

James K0UA

 

[dmccarty]

Is it me, or the impending seasonal change from a severely hot and dry summer to a hopefully cooler fall, or a slight deviation of the rotational axis of the earth, I don't know, but I have noticed the posts of the TBN collective have ..... well......ventured into the land of bizarro.

First it was the Dealership Nightmare thread and now this one. Put it this way. I sure didn't expect to read about lambskin condoms on a He thread this morning . Keep it coming guys. I am wide awake now

This is one of the things that makes TBN great. The conversation went from a gas that is used for many things, including filling balloons, to condom materials used through the ages. The two subjects are sorta related. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

TBN is helping man erect yet another tower of knowledge.

Later,
Dan

 

[charlz]

It is funny because my wife works at a car dealership. A few months ago she mentioned something about getting helium for those 'ballon bridge' things car dealerships sometimes make. I told her about the He shortage and that I was surprised they hadn't been rationed yet and they should stock up if given the chance. She mentioned it to her boss, the owner of the dealership and GM. I guess he kind of rolled his eyes. Two weeks later.... sorry, no helium.

 

[flusher]

Actually, helium, the second lightest element (hydrogen is the lightest), escapes from the atmosphere very quickly. Helium comes from natural gas wells where it accumulates over millions of years from radioactive decay of uranium, radium and thorium in the rocks that form the walls of the underground chambers. Most of our helium comes from natural gas wells north of Amarillo, TX. Helium is stripped off the natural gas stream before the natural gas is sent into the pipelines. I used my share of liquid helium during my 32 year career as an aerospace engineer for space simulation work (ultracold shrouds in high vacuum chambers) and for fusion energy research (superconducting magnets).

 

[NHmitch]

I really think that they should make sure that they have sufficient reserves for uses in Medical, and the Aerospace industry. Helium is the only gas that can be used in an MRI to cool the super-conductor magnets, and it is also used in Fiber optics, and LCD production. The worst part is, like Flusher stated, that 80% of the worlds supply comes from Amarillo. This is from a recent article: "But in 1996, the US government passed a law which states that the facility - the US National Helium Reserve - must be completely sold off by 2015 to recoup the price of installing it.

WE only have enough of a supply to last 25 years.


Earth's helium reserves 'will run out within 25 years' | Mail Online

 

[dmccarty]

The US Helium production/storage initially was setup to primarily for war time use in blimps and airships in early part of the last century. Germany did not have the ability to product enough HE for Zeppelins so they had to use Hydrogen since the US would not sell HE to Germany. Companies will eventually start producing HE when they can make money off the gas. I don't think we are going to run out of HE because the US government stops subsidizing HE production/storage. Even the link says we have a 25 year reserve. When the reserve is down to 5 years, then start worrying. :laughing: We have bigger problems that need attention NOW.

Later,
Dan