Can liquid helium be stored indefinitely in a sealed container? I need to permanently seal a superconducting magnet in liquid helium. A persistent current will be induced in the superconductor and it is said that it will persist forever, theoretically. This has an immensely important application. But I just want to ensure the container won't blow up, once it's permanently sealed. Also, what material would the container be made of?
2007-09-05 12:50:15 · 4 answers · asked by Flash Gordon 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
helium has a melting point of 1K , a boiling point of 4.1K and a critical point of 5.2K
if you bottle it and allow the bottle to warm above 5K the fluid in the bottle will be a supercritical fluid having properties of both liquid and gas.
It can exist as a supercritical fluid well above 5.2K. there are some studies going on as what phases the supercritical fluid is in at various temperatures. You'll have to do some googling..
if you maintain a temperature below 5.2K, then it should exist OK. again, there are some funny things that go on and are being studied. google them...
2007-09-05 13:03:06 · answer #1 · answered by Dr W 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You can find a dense or strong enough material to hold your liquid helium easily, but that isn't the problem it is the temperature. It is expensive, and energy intensive to create liquid helium and keeping things that cool is very difficult. But, if you don't keep it that cool then it won't be a superconductor, and at just 10 degrees warmer it won't be a conductor at all.
Keeping the helium liquid is the problem. There is no realistic application of Boyle's Law or any realistic cooling system that can create a real world stable superconductor out of liquid helium. The helium will warm up, turn into a gas and stop conducting period. That is why the search is on for a room temperature superconductor.
2007-09-05 19:59:17 · answer #2 · answered by Dan S 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
For one thing, the current won't last forever. Superconductors have zero resistance, but there are other factors affecting current flow. And you'd have to keep the helium at near absolute zero. I can pretty much guarantee you that you're not going to find a container that will hold up to the pressure room temperature helium will create.
2007-09-05 20:04:07 · answer #3 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
This isn't going to work, you would need a perfect insulator and such a material just does not exist.
2007-09-05 20:01:06 · answer #4 · answered by milton b 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋