Revitalization of University of Florida Helium Liquefaction and Recovery System

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。该项目将振兴和提高佛罗里达大学氦气液化设施的能力。新的压缩机和存储容量的安装将使现有设施升级为下一代基础设施，以支持未来15至20年在校园内大规模用户和广泛分布的小规模用户的研究，将每年交付和回收的液体总量从89,000升扩大到135,000升。该项目将通过提供低成本氦气供应来加强研究基础设施。佛罗里达大学支持低温学课程，每年在该领域的课堂和研究实验室培训60多名本科生、研究生和博士后助理。该培训与整个实验室的研究活动相结合，包括处理低温液体的安全指导，并且在培训学生低温和超低温技术方面是独一无二的。此外，大学还为国内和国际的许多其他大学和实验室提供技术咨询。使用液氦的研究人员将在夏季项目中指导许多本科生（物理、化学和材料研究的本科生研究项目），并在佛罗里达中北部的小学和中学以及NHMFL暑期学校授课。液氦研究支持的研究和教育活动预计将增加该领域本科生和研究生的培训机会，并提高保留率。此外，我们亦会设立一个网页，提供有关设施的资料，包括参观设施的照片，以及可从该设施受益的研究、教育项目和社区活动的完整清单。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This project will revitalize and enhance the capability of the University of Florida Helium Liquifaction facility. The installation of new compressors and storage capacity will upgrade the current facility to the next generation infra-structure to support research of both large scale users and the widely distributed small scale users across campus for the next 15 to 20 years, expanding the total volume of liquid delivered and recovered annually from 89,000 liters to 135,000 liters.The project will enhance infrastructure for research by providing low cost helium supply. The University of Florida supports curricula in cryogenics and trains more than 60 undergraduate and graduate students and post doctoral associates each year in classes and research laboratories in this area. The training is integrated with research activities throughout the laboratories including safety instruction on handling low temperature liquids, and is unique in training students in low and ultra-low temperature techniques. In addition, the University provides technical consults to many other universities and laboratories both national and international. The investigators who use the liquid helium will be mentoring many undergraduate students in summer programs (undergraduate research programs in physics, chemistry and materials research) and give lectures at elementary and middle schools throughout north-central Florida, and at the NHMFL Summer School. Research and educational activities supported by liquid helium research are expected to increase training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in this field and increase retention rates. In addition, a webpage will be set up for outreach activities and this site will provide information about the facility including a photo tour of the facility and the complete list of research, educational projects and community activities that could benefit from the facility.