NASA Goddard Cryogenics Branch
Porous Plug
Diagram showing porous plug used to allow helium to vent from dewar. Normal helium flows from bath to exposed end of plug. Helium evaporates from the exposed end of plug and escapes down the vent tube. Superfluid helium flows back from exposed end of plug into the bath. That's how it normally works, but see section below on Castles Catastrophe. Return