spectrometer decommissioning (quench)

Spectrometer decommissioning
The 200 MHz spectrometer, am200, was decommissioned April 10, 2003. Although the lowest field magnet in our Department, its cryogen consumption was right at the top of all spectrometers. Installed well over 20 years ago, the magnet simply did not have insulation capacities comparable to modern magnets. 

Despite precautions to avoid a quench, the am200 did actually quench while the field was taken down. Some pictures of that event are shown below. It should be noted that helium gas, while not toxic in principle, is very dangerous because it displaces the oxygen in the room. If you ever encounter a quench of an NMR system leave the area immediately.

The 200 magnet eventually got cut up in half and is now on display outside E1-60, together with a 15 minute slide show that runs non-stop 24/7.

Preparations for the decommissioning of the magnet by Glen Bigam. 

Totally normal, expected behavior for about 5 to 6 minutes.

Then sudden, loud action and not so normal behavior....

Spectacular but expensive....