Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-05

ease than through most rare gases,
and its conductivity for heat is very
high.
= X 4
HELIUM is of prime Importance In
aeronautics because Of its great
buoyancy, because Of it's rate of diffu-
sion and consequent wastage through
fabrics being only half that of by
drogen and, above all, because of its
chemical inertness. The effectiveness
of hydrogen-filled dirigibles in war,
owing to the high inflammability OF
hydrogen, was reduced to the vanish
ing point when means of combating
them with incendiary projectiles were
developed. Even under peace condi-
lions the great hydrogen-filled en-
velope of the dirigible constitutes a
serious hazard because Of possible ig-
. milton from atmospheric electricity or
from flames originating in the power
plant of the craft. Helium. however,
being absolutely inert, cannot be ig-
nited or exploded, and even mixtures
containing certain amounts of hydrogen
with helium can be used with perfect
safety in ighter-than-airc craft.
Several distinguished scientists have
been supposed to have first discov-
cred helium. Sir William Ramsey,
British chemist has done much in the
very early stages of helium expert
mentation, but it Is generally con-
eaded p j. C. Jansen, a chemist,
noted in the solar chromosphere
bright yellow line nearly identical
r. nf sodium.
The name derived from the Greek
words ''helios." the sun, thence
"helium." Such chemist and SCENT
lets as Hillebrand, Sir William Crooke,
FARMLAND and Lockyer. but largely
Sir William Ramsey. are responsible
for the early knowledge of helium.
1t was in August, 1868. that Jansen
made his first discoveries, and the
basic knowledge from the early ex-
periments have differed and were car
ried on at entirely different angles.
HeIium is widely distributed in ma
ture, but generally in minute quanti-
ties. It is present In the air. about
1 volume to 25o.G0o yoIumes of air.
The United States and the lower part
of Canada are the only sections where
natural gas contains hefium. 1t Is
found in a broad belt starting in Tex
as, coming up through Oklahoma.
Kansas, Ohio and a possible small
extension in the lower part Of Indi-
ana. There are a few fields in the
Alberta section Of Canada. but the
amounts of helium to be obtained
from the natural gas Is small, and
the British government experimental
ton plant there has produced very
little. There are helium-bearing
gases in Europe, but they are very
small. Either the percentage Of hell
UNI to be obtained from the gas Is
too small to be considered or the
amount of gas in the well is too lin
tied. even though sometimes the per-
centage of helium would be high.
And at the present cost Of extraction
for helium on a quantity basis the
undertaking would not be rational.
However, gas fields. wells and blower
pockets have been found all over the
world, but none has proved very valua-
bic. save the fields Of Texas.
X X
As the war brought on unnatural
0emanQ IOT TldIy IdlC diio soASh
BILE products that were either manu-
featured on small basis or too
greatly undeveloped to even manu-
fseture. so did the war for military
and national aggression demand
helium. The bureau of mines, with
DR.. Richard B. Moore, chief chemist.
ably assisted by DR.. Andrew Stewart,
started its first work and expert
ments about 1916, after considerable
correspondence with Sir William
Ramsey and several other scientists.
But it was not until the war that
the bureau of mines really started
work to find a method by which to
produce helium. For the needs OF the
war and the air service money was
appropriated jointly by the Army ana
Navy Airship Board and recommend
ed by the Aircraft Production Board.
One hundred thousand dollars was 10
he shared equally from the Army ana
Navy appropriations. Col. G. A. Bur-
reIl Of the gas division of the bureau
Of mines had been studying the situa-
ton for a number Of years and knew
that the gas fields Of Petrolia, Tex.
were helium gas bearing fields. DR..
F. G. Cottrell, chief metallurgist Of
the bureau, was asked to assist in the
work with DIR. Moore and Col. Bur-
rell. and from the time that starting
appropriations were made the bureau
Of mines actually carried out the ex-
fermentation and the production in
every degree and angle for the naval
and military services.
There were three distinct methods
or processes used to determine which
would be the best to produce helium
in Texas. The Claude process was in
actual use by the Air Reduction Com
pany. and the Linde process was In
actual use by the Linde Air Products
Company. These two companies were
established firms in the business OF
gas liquefaction and separation. DR..
Cottrell has suggested the use Of an
entirely new air separation, known
as the Jefferies-Norton process. but
generally known as the Norton proc
ess. This process had been evolved
by Fred f. Norton. a graduate Of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technol-
ogy, who has an international repu-
tation. Three separate small expert
mental plants were built. and for
time there was keen competition be-
+ tKesn tia plaotss