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KU is Leader in Helium Research
One of the keys to the future economic prosperity of Kansas may lie with helium—and KU has a large stake in that future.
The state of Kansas is presently in the midst of a helium "boom." The nation's prime source of the colorless, odorless, tasteless inert gas is in the Hugoton gas fields in the southwest quarter of the state.
THE MISSILE AND SPACE industries have created huge new demands for helium. Every time a large missile leaves a launching pad at Cape Canaveral, up to 1,000 cubic feet of helium is used. And, because it is an inert gas and does not burn or explode, helium is used to flush fuel systems and to pressurize missiles which use liquid oxygen fuels.
KU began its helium interests in 1905 when Prof. H. P. Cady, aided by a young instructor named D. F. McFarland, discovered helium in a gas sample taken from a well near Dexter.
ONE OF PROF. CADY'S students, Clifford W. Seibel, later did research at KU, then went on to become chief engineer, designer and organizer of the nation's helium program which was developed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines.
KU today is still a pace-setter for helium research with men like Fred Kurata, professor of chemical engineering and one of the nation's leading authorities on helium.
HELIUM RESEARCH is not new to Prof. Kurata. For 14 years, he has investigated how gases behave under various
conditions. Much of his work has been with helium, and the major part of the research was done with the high pressure-low temperature characteristics of gases. It is under high pressure and low temperature that helium is extracted from natural gas.
Extraction processes are expensive, however. Helium composes only about one-half of one per cent of the total volume of
Prof. Fred Kurata
IN PRACTICAL TERMS, then, Prof. Kurata's research will seek to improve the refining processes and reduce their cost. The data obtained may have far-reaching importance for many types of refining.
the natural gas mixture. Today's refining methods can obtain only about 90 per cent of the helium.
Prof. Kurata's work in the University's Center for Research in Engineering Science will be with the thermodynamic properties of helium. One of these is the "phase behavior" of helium as it changes from a gas to a liquid at low temperature and high pressure.
One of the results of his research may be more accurate yardsticks for determining the amount of cooling equipment needed in a helium-extraction plant.
"THERE IS NOW NO way of accurately predicting how much refrigeration is needed," Prof. Kurata says. "As a result, we over-build refining facilities to make sure there is enough."
Masses of information will be accumulated during Prof. Kurata's research. Using the automatic data processing equipment in the University's Computer Center, this data will be correlated and filed. Future researchers, using this data, will be able to predict how other gases will react under similar conditions.
PROF. KURATA will be assisted by advanced chemistry students and G. W. Swift, associate professor of chemical engineering. Their laboratory experiments will include working with helium at temperatures down to minus 450 degrees Fahrenheit and pressures up to 1,000 pounds per square inch.
"The work is just beginning," Prof. Kurata says. "This isn't a short-term program. It could go on for my lifetime. A lot of this work will be applicable to the space program, not only for helium, but for various computation programs that could benefit from the data accumulated."
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 1962 University Daily Kansan
Angel Flight Picks Angels
Twenty-one women at the University of Kansas have been pledged by Angel Flight and will be initiated Thursday.
Angel Flight is an auxiliary of Arnold Air Society, an honorary organization for Air Force ROTC cadets.
Carolyn Toews, Inman senior, is the group's commander, and Dorothy Stevens, Hutchinson senior, is rush chairman and pledge trainer.
THE PLEDGES ARE: Carol Anderson, Leawood sophomore; Cynthia Ann Childers, Merriam junior; Sandra Coffman, Pittsburgh sophomore; Nancy Davis, Leawood sophomore; Johanna Degroot, Wichita sophomore; Janet Epperson, Redlands, Calif., sophomore; Leslie Freeze, Overland Park junior; Linda Houston, Wichita sophomore.
MARY PARKER HUGHES. Des Moines, Iowa, sophomore; Yvonne Jackson, Kansas City junior; Mary Kline, Wichita sophomore; Carolyn Kunz, Greenville, S.C. sophomore; Patricia Lee, Independence, Mo.; junior; Sandra Lessenden, Topeka sophomore; Maureen Maloney, Hutchinson junior; Campa Mayo, Wichita junior; Ann Sheldon, Independence
sophomore; Kay Willis, Augusta
sophomore; Marcelie Wilson, Littleton,
Colo., junior; and Maralyn Wyles,
Carlisle, Pa. sophomore.
Art Fans May Visit K.C. Art Exhibits
Student Union Activities is sponsoring a trip to the William Rockhill Nelson art gallery to see the "German Expressionism" and "Christmas Art from Another World" exhibits. A bus will leave at 1 p.m. Thursday and return about 5 p.m.
The round-trip to Kansas City will cost $1 and tickets can be obtained at the Information Counter in the Kansas Union.
Schweitzer Talk Scheduled
Dr. Milton Steinhardt, professor of music history, will talk on "Albert Schweitzer as a Musician," at 8 p.m. tomorrow.
The program, which will be in room 305 of the Kansas Union, is sponsored by the KU-Y Great Men of the 20th Century study group. A film will follow Steinhardt's talk.
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