PARIS--(Business Wire)--
Regulatory News:
The largest and most complex scientific instrument ever built will
be officially inaugurated at CERN, European Centre for Nuclear
Research, on October 21, 2008 by government representatives from the
CERN member states, and many other dignitaries. On September 10th, the
Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was successfully started, emitted its
first beam of protons and is currently stopped until next Spring.
The LHC, the world's most powerful particle accelerator, will
break new ground in terms of knowledge of particle physics and will
therefore advance fundamental physics research into matter and the
birth of the universe.
Since 1995, Air Liquide (Paris:AI) has contributed to this
exceptional project, developing the "largest refrigerator in the
world": a complex and innovative system of liquid helium distribution
and cooling.
Placed in a tunnel 100 meters below ground, on the French-Swiss
border, the cryogenic system designed and installed by Air Liquide
distributes superfluid liquid helium in a ring measuring 27 km in
circumference. The LHC's 1,700 superconducting magnets must be
maintained at a temperature of 1.8K (-271°C), a cryogenic temperature
very close to "absolute zero*". Air Liquide also developed and
supplied CERN with the liquefiers required to cool the helium. The
Group's operation and maintenance teams provide CERN with their
know-how and skill on a daily basis, in the fields of cryogenics.
François Darchis, member of the Air Liquide Executive Committee,
in charge of Advanced Technologies, declared: "The exceptional size of
the LHC and the expected level of performance presented Air Liquide
teams with a technological challenge that was met successfully. We are
delighted with the first beam generations and continue to support CERN
in order to open up the field of knowledge in fundamental physics. Air
Liquide is proud to be contributing in this way to scientific projects
that require total mastery of cryogenics at ultra low temperature."
Air Liquide's world firsts at CERN
-- An ultra low temperature of -271°C, close to absolute zero*
-- This temperature is maintained along the whole length of a
27 km underground ring
-- Circulation of superfluid helium at a reduced pressure of 0.2
bar, or atmospheric pressure at an altitude of 12 km
3,000 components, designed, manufactured and assembled to make up
the 27 km cryogenic system
-- 300 connection points between the Air Liquide cryogenic system
and the LHC magnets.
* Absolute zero: the lowest temperature we can approach,
corresponding to 0K on the Kelvin temperature scale or -273.15°C on
the Celsius temperature scale.
0 Kelvin is the temperature at which the movements of atoms and
particles should be "fixed" and at which heat would no longer be
produced by the atoms.
With more than 40,000 employees in 75 countries, Air Liquide is
the world leader in industrial and medical gases and related services.
The Group offers innovative solutions based on constantly enhanced
technologies and produces air gases (oxygen, nitrogen, argon, rare
gases...) and many other gases including hydrogen. The Group
contributes to the manufacturing of many everyday products: bubbles in
sparkling beverages, protective atmosphere for packed foods, oxygen
for hospitals and homecare patients, ultra-pure gases for the
semiconductor industry, hydrogen to desulfurize fuels...
Air Liquide is committed to sustainable development and helps to
protect life. Founded in 1902, Air Liquide has successfully developed
a long-term relationship with its shareholders built on trust and
transparency and guided by the principles of corporate governance.
Since the publication of its first consolidated financial statements
in 1971, Air Liquide has posted strong and steady earnings growth.
Sales in 2007 totaled 11,801 million euros, with sales outside France
accounting for almost 80%. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris stock
exchange and is a component of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices
(ISIN code FR 0000120073).
www.airliquide.com
Corporate Communication
Corinne Estrade-Bordry
+ 33 (0)1 40 62 51 31
or
Investor Relations
Virginia Jeanson
+33 (0)1 40 62 57 37
Aude Rodriguez
+33 (0)1 40 62 57 18
or
Air Liquide Advanced Technologies
Dominique Lecocq
+ 33 (0)4 76 43 64 97
Copyright Business Wire 2008
