• Square Singer@feddit.de
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    9 months ago

    But not nearly the required amounts. We currently use about 6 million metric tons of helium per year.

    If fusion plants ever become a commercially viable thing (and that’s a big if), they will never be able to supply anything close to that.

    • jarfil@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      edit-2
      9 months ago

      According to this, the anual production is 160 million cubic meters, which at a density of 0.166kg/m³ would be over 26 million metric tons of helium per year.

      https://www.statista.com/statistics/925214/helium-production-worldwide-by-country/

      If we currently only use 6, that’s 20 too many being produced. It would also seem like China is 95% dependent on helium import, so the US selling its reserves could be a reasonable way to level the import/export balance.

        • jarfil@beehaw.org
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          edit-2
          9 months ago

          According to the OP article:

          Both Philips and Siemens Healthineers recently started selling alternatives to traditional MRI machines, which hold 1,700 to 1,800 liters of liquid helium and require constant replenishment.

          Some models now require just 1 to 7 liters of helium and don’t need any replenishment.

          That could mean a much lower usage, and a much longer timespan for the supply.

          • Square Singer@feddit.de
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            3
            ·
            9 months ago

            That would indeed be very helpful. But if all the other usages keep draining the supply, it will only help extend artificial reserves.