![]() ![]() Depending on the size of the leak, some are easier to catch, and some are difficult to detect right away. Magnet Leaks – Magnet leaks are really only detectable through constant monitoring of your helium levels in your magnet over time. If the power goes down then the compressor shuts off, the coldhead shuts off, and the helium is released through the opened vent.Ĥ. Power Failure – Power failure is much the same as the chiller failure. ![]() Due to the critical role the chiller plays in this system, a downed chiller requires immediate attention and results in longer down time and more costly repairs.ģ. As a result, the critical systems necessary for temperature regulation are crippled also resulting in helium boil off. Downed Chiller – When the chiller goes down, the inevitable effect is a shutdown of both the coldhead and the compressor. Unaddressed coldhead failures will result in continuous venting, commonly referred to as ‘boil off’ which describes the point at which liquid helium boils off or is released (thru venting) into the atmosphere much like boiling water.Ģ. When this happens, the MRI’s venting system is triggered due to the increased pressure. Coldhead/Compressor – When coldhead’s fail, magnet pressures will increase. With average helium prices currently at $25+/liter, the dollars and sense of this crisis can have a profound impact on health care providers.ġ. OEMs generally cite 1000 liters of helium is lost on an average system annually. While long term solutions are a worthy cause, they will require an investment of time, money and resources before they can be considered a realistic and implementable approach to limiting the real expenses this crisis is already causing for providers. ![]() According to the Bureau of Land Management, helium prices are predicted to keep climbing and are expected to jump another 135 percent on-year for 2019 (Gasworld). While efforts are being made to curtail the global helium shortage, the effects of this crisis are already being felt by health care service providers in our industry. However, in the face of the current helium shortage, helium loss has gone from an expected occurrence to an extremely costly challenge for healthcare providers.īlocked foreign shipments, pipeline management issues, plant outages and the shutting down of the National Helium Reserve have all caused the unpredictable helium market and served as a catalyst for the crisis in our industry. For anyone familiar with this element and how it works with MRI systems, you know that boil off is an accepted and expected factor in MRI service models. Liquid helium is the coldest element in the world, and maintaining its liquid state is highly specialized and requires constant monitoring. ![]()
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