Helium Scarcity and Gas Cooled Reactors

[Delta Force]

How much helium would a gas cooled reactor require for startup and loss replacement? Would helium's scarcity pose a major obstacle to widespread or long term adoption of it as a coolant for nuclear reactors?

 

[Dennis Jasbey]

Helium would not be so scarce if users retained it after use instead of releasing it to the atmosphere as 99% do now.

If mandatory helium conservation programs are enacted, then there will be plenty of helium to cool future reactors.

 

[Delta Force]

Anyone know how much helium coolant a reactor would need? All I've been able to find is flow rates, not total inventory, and not how much might be lost over time.