Technology and Development of Hydrogen–Helium Cryogenics Created by Hong Chaosheng

Professor Hong Chaosheng, as the founding figure and pioneer of China’s hydrogen and helium cryogenic technology, played a pivotal role in advancing this field from its inception to global competitiveness. This paper systematically reviews the seven-decade-long cryogenic research trajectory of the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CAS (formerly the Cryogenic Technology Experimental Center), with particular emphasis on milestone scientific achievements and their significant applications. In the 1960s, the Institute’s breakthrough in long-piston-expander-precooled helium liquefaction technology provided critical support for China’s space technology and superconductivity research. Since the 21st century, building upon Professor Hong’s academic legacy, the Institute has successively overcome core technological challenges in developing high-speed helium turbine expanders, high-efficiency oil-flooded screw compressors, and superfluid helium temperature refrigeration systems. These innovations have yielded a complete series of large-scale cryogenic equipment with independent intellectual property rights. These advancements have been successfully applied in national megaprojects such as neutron sources and superconducting magnet testing facilities, with some technical parameters reaching internationally leading standards. Looking ahead, with the rapid development of quantum computing and fusion energy, China’s hydrogen–helium cryogenic technology will continue to optimize equipment performance while expanding application frontiers through enhanced international collaboration, thereby making greater contributions to cutting-edge scientific research and clean energy development.