The Delegates and Sponsors arrived on the Monday afternoon and shared coffee and an evening meal before the full meeting started on the Tuesday. The meeting began with an address to all by the organising committee followed by a full program of talks, highlighted below.
SIVL and Polycold Cascade Systems | Steve Alford & Richard Booth, GRE
GRE has developed many different applications to enable delivery of a wide range of projects, which includes, designing, manufacturing and testing (including x ray coded welding) of bespoke systems, including, liquid nitrogen systems where bespoke designs have been produced to ensure liquid nitrogen at the valve avoiding flash gas heating the system. GRE also provide helium systems.
GRE use a LIDAR system which scans and essentially provides a detailed lay out which avoids using manual measurements reducing the risk of human error, this means everything can be confidently made off site to help with installation.
GRE have also invested in a Pump and flush automated system where components can be left overnight within a 100
C oven to ensure all moisture has been removed.
There was also a presentation on an Auto cascade refrigerator which utilises a single compressor and multiple refrigerants on a closed cycle system to achieve temperatures down to -80°C. This system can be automated to ensure temperatures can be available at certain times. The system is portable and can be used at different sites. A cost comparison was provided against the use of liquid nitrogen.
A List of the Talks from 2 -4 September 2026
Monday 2nd September
- Delegates, sponsors arrive, tea and coffee and evening meal
Tuesday 3rd September
- Opening Address - CryoUsers Committee
- SIVL and Polycold cascade systems - Steve Alford / Richard Booth GRE
- Cryogenics for power and energy, a winning ticket – Pascale Dauguet
- ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source Cryogenic Moderators Systems - Justin Miles
- Refrigeration & Special Gases - Jaroslav Jezek – Haugh / Sauer
- Thermodynamics for cryogenic application - Alex Jones
- Thermodynamics for cryogenic application - Alex Jones
- Cryogenics for the US Navy - Kelvin International
- Sample Environment & Helium Recovery Wet or dry that is the question - Richard Down
- The supply of specialty gases from Tunstall & the Eco Origin initiative - Simon James / Robert Severn
- Diamond Light Source - Adam Rankin
- Can a tiny droplet of quantum fluid stop up-hill flowing liquid? - Oleg Kirichek
Wednesday 4th September
- Research and Development in the field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging” - Matthew Wooley / Sanjeev Taak
- The Helium Market - BOC
- Safety - Bob Wiltshire
- Smarter Subsea - Phil Pritchard
CryoUsers Confrence 2024 - For Reference
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History
CryoUsers meetings started over 25 years ago, when many of the UK Universities purchased helium liquefiers; varying degrees of operational success led the technical staff responsible for operating the liquefiers to gather together and share operational experiences.
The first event was hosted by Lancaster in 1991 and was a clear success, not only in sharing experience, but in establishing a network with its own identity and strong interconnecting bonds. Industry also recognises the merits of CryoUsers as an influential group in the marketplace.
The CryoUsers Group has continued to meet every two years, moving to a different venue each time. The gathering has evolved to include a range of talks, networking opportunities and an industrial sponsors’ exhibition.
| 1991 Lancaster University | 1992 Oxford University | 1993 Southampton University |
| 1995 Liverpool University | 1997 St Andrews University | 1999 Sheffield University |
| 2001 Cambridge University | 2003 Leicester University | 2005 Manchester University |
| 2007 Oxford: hosted by STFC | 2009 Royal Holloway | 2011 Lancaster University |
| 2013 Bristol University | 2015 Exeter University | 2017 Coventry Techno Centre |
| 2019 St Andrews University | 2022 University of Nottingham | 2024 The University of Leeds |
