Thread: Helium
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Old 06-15-2008, 01:50 PM   #19 (permalink)
slopemeno
coasting....
 
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A big part of the reason for nitrogen in aircraft tires is it doesnt have much moisture, and doesnt expand when the tire becomes incredibly hot, or in the case of an airliner, the now non-existent moisture doesnt cause condensation that can freeze at altitude.


And have you priced heluim lately? My job is supplying various medical, specialty, and industrial gases to a medical/research institution. Helium is extracted from oil wells, and since there arent as many new wells being dug, less and less helium is available. The price is getting so high for the better grades ( $350 my cost per H- or 200 cf cylinder) that labs are looking into purchasing hydrogen generators instead of buying cylinders of helium. Their equipment will accept either gas, from what they tell me.

You can probably figure the volume of your tires, the amount of lifting force (est .5-1 lbs max, if that?) , and choosing a slightly narrower tire on your next tire change will give you the same effect.
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