Suzuki Shokan’s Cryogenic Department developed a compact-type helium reliquefier to re-condensate helium evaporated at the liquid helium use point and a liquid nitrogen circulation cooling system applied to the spectroscope in response to the increasing demand over the world. They have been put into the market for orders from this year.

The helium reliquefier was developed to respond to the increasing on-site needs to use liquid helium which had been recognized through experiments. With the reliquefier connected to the exhaust port of dewar, the evaporated helium is liquefied again with a unit of the 4K refrigerator made by Sumitomo Heavy Industries. Suzuki Shokan (SSK) realized a high heat-exchange efficiency using its own heat exchanger, enabling recondensation of 15 to 20 liter per day with only one unit of 4K refrigerator for the first time.

SSK’s staff in charge of product commercialization talked about the history, “We have so far manufactured recondensers by a special order to meet use environments of customers, but when the previous serious shortage of helium occurred, small-lot consumers had quite a hard time being left in a postpone list. Much to regret, they naturally had a less sense of security for availability anytime they needed helium. To cope with the booming needs for long-lasting readiness repeating condensation in a small quantity of 100 liter or so, we have prepared catalog products with standard specifications.” Making arrangements to customize the design of piping position connected to the reliquefier from the waste-air port, SSK started to sell the product from January and delivered the first unit to a research institute at the end of February. The target is to sell 10 units for the initial year.
　
The LIN circulation cooling system for spectroscope is aimed to cool the mirrors and analyzing devices used in it. SSK explained that the system is called “BATH-COOL” in which continuous cooling is made by means of dipping objects for cooling into the LIN which is being kept in a sub-cooled state. It is a type of equipment to keep cooling at all times by circulating LIN inside the system. SSK has so far been supplying such a type of products as those to cool LIN by refrigerators, but they say that recently there is an increasing demand for LIN circulation type. In Japan mainly adopted has been a refrigerator type for such a large-scaled synchrotron radiation facilities as SPring-8, but new synchrotron radiation facilities abroad now employ an LIN pipeline in general for frequent use in many cases. Affected by the devalued yen, Japanese spectroscope manufacturers are actively participating in overseas tenders. SSK also designs and commercializes cooling equipment in tie-up with those spectroscope manufacturers now. Unlike the refrigerators which consume several kW per unit, it is characteristic that the system consumes quite less electricity because of the circulation of LIN.
　
Photo (above): Helium reliquefyier in test operation at Ageo Cryogenic Facility Plant
Installation frames, etc. are designed depending on Dewar shapes.

Photo (below): LIN Circulation System