NYSBC houses 11 superconducting NMR magnets at various fields from 475 MHz to 900 MHz. Seven of the magnets are used exclusively for solution NMR experiments, while two are dedicated solid state instruments. Two instruments, one at 800 MHz and one at 900 MHz, are capable of both solution and solid state NMR experiments and they rotate between these two acquisition modes on a periodic basis.
In 2023, NYSBC installed a system for recovering helium (He) gas that was previously lost to atmosphere due to boil off from the superconducting NMR magnets. The all metal He recovery system was designed and installed by Quantum Technology consisting of 4 coldheads for He liquefaction and is capable of liquefying > 80 L/day. The system has a capacity to store the equivalent of ~ 180 liquid L of compressed as He gas that allows the recovery of He when refilling the NMR magnets with He. Additionally, 500 L of liquid He can be stored in transport dewars with a 350 L production dewar totally 850 L of liquid He storage capacity. Over the first year of continuous use (2025), NYSBC has been able to recover >10,000 L of liquid helium at an efficiency of > 85%.
NMR Magnets High Pressure Solid State NMR Probes Helium Recovery