Section III, 1919 [53] Trans. R.S.C. 



The Production of Helium from the Natural Gases of Canada^ 

 By Professor J. C. McLennan, F.R.S. 



(Read May Meeting, 1919.) 



Shortly after the commencement of the war, it became evident 

 that, if helium were available in sufficient quantities to replace hydro- 

 gen in naval or military airships, the losses in life and equipment 

 arising from the use of hydrogen would be enormously lessened. 

 Helium, as is known, is most suitable as a filling for airship envelopes, 

 in that it is non-inflammable and non-explosive, and, if desired, the 

 engines may be placed within the envelope. By its use, it is also 

 possible to secure additional buoyancy by heating the gas (electrically 

 or otherwise), and this fact might possibly lead to considerable modi- 

 fications in the technique of airship manoeuvres and navigation. The 

 loss of gas from diffusion through the envelope is also less with helium 

 than with hydrogen, but on the other hand, the lifting power of 

 helium is about ten percent less than that of hydrogen. 



Proposals had been frequently put forward by scientists in the 

 British Empire and in enemy countries regarding the development of 

 supplies of helium for airship purposes, but the first attempt to give 

 practical effect to these proposals was initiated by Sir Richard Threl- 

 fall, who received strong support from the Admiralty through the 

 Board of Invention and Research, under the presidency of Admiral of 

 the Fleet, Lord Fisher O.M., G. C. B., etc. 



It was known that supplies of natural gas containing helium in 

 varying amounts existed in America, and it became evident from the 

 preliminary investigations made by Sir Richard Threlfall and from 

 calculations submitted by him as to cost of production, transportation, 

 etc., that there was substantial ground for believing that helium could 

 be obtained in large quantities at a cost which would not be prohibitive. 



The writer was invited by the Board of Invention and Research 

 in 1915 to determine the helium content of the supplies of natural 

 gas within the Empire, to carry out a series of experiments on a semi- 

 commercial scale with the helium supplies available, and also to work 

 out all technical details in connection with the large-scale production 

 of helium and the large-scale purification of such supplies as might be 

 delivered and become contaminated with air in service. In this work 

 he received valuable assistance from his colleagues, Professors John 



^ Communicated by permission of the Admiralty. 



