Not logged inAmerican Welding Society Forum
Forum AWS Website Help Search Login
Up Topic Welding Industry / Technical Discussions / Acetylene
- - By Brainfarth (*) Date 04-25-2004 20:13
I've read from many places that acetylene is unstable and possibly explosive over 15 psi without acetone to stabilize it. According to the army: Under pressure of 29.4 psi (203) kPa), acetylene becomes self-explosive, and a slight shock can cause it to explode spontaneously. But according to the Victor welding charts that I have found, they recomend pressures well beyond the acceptable limits on tip sizes of 3 and above. This is where I'm getting a little confused.
Any info on the matter would much be appriciated.
-Brainfarth
Parent - By sparx (**) Date 04-26-2004 15:44
I think you are actually referring to the preheat psi or even the scfh value of the acetylene. the chart will state the psig min/max for the acetylene between 3 at the lowest/smallest tip to maximum of 15 for the largest tip.
Parent - - By swnorris (****) Date 04-26-2004 16:15
Hi Brainfarth,

Acetylene will not explode under low pressure at normal temperatures. However, it becomes unstable and spontaneously combustible when compressed to a pressure over 15 psi. Beyond 29.4 psi, it becomes self explosive, and a slight shock may cause it to explode even in the absence of air or oxygen. Since acetylene is shock sensitive and explodes above 30 psi, cylinders of acetylene contain acetylene dissolved in acetone, which lowers the danger of storing acetylene under high pressure. Acetylene cylinders are not hollow. They are packed with porous rock or crushed firebrick that is saturated with acetone. Acetylene happens to dissolve readily into acetone, and the dissolved gas is no longer in contact with gaseous O2, which does not tend to dissolve in acetone, and therefore is not as prone to decomposition by O2. The porous rock helps by minimizing the free volume of the cylinder, cooling and controlling any thermal decomposition before it gets out of control. Each decomposition of acetylene gives off heat. Acetone is capable of absorbing acetylene to approximately 25 times its own volume. Incidently, placing acetylene cylinders on their sides can cause the acetone and binders to dislodge. The result may be the formation of an acetylene pocket that is subject to polymerization and the possibility that liquid acetone will be released into the regulator. If storing upright is not possible, it is recommended that the cylinder be placed upright and left to stand for one half hour before using, although I read somewhere else that it should be standing upright for a period of eight hours. Restoring to the upright position allows the acetone to settle to back to the bottom of the cylinder, which in turn would prevent liquid acetone from running through the regulator. Anyway, as far as your pressures and limits on tip sizes 3 and above, the Victor chart I have shows that for welding and multi flame heating nozzles using acetylene, the acetylene pressure range for a #3 and above tip is 3 psi minimum, and 6 psi maximum. The acetylene ranges on the chart go from 3 psi minimum to 15 psi maximum, for material thicknesses of up to 1/32" to 4". Incidently, the "cutting with acetylene" chart shows ranges of 3 psi to 15 psi.



Parent - By RonG (****) Date 04-26-2004 16:38
The Army has the correct info.

Acetylene is safe at 15 PSI in side a soft hose for obvious reasons.

Acctylene cylinders are filled with a soft fiber much like a cigarette filter
Parent - By Brainfarth (*) Date 04-27-2004 07:18
Thanks people. I knew that something was fishy when the psi was greater than 15 and for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how they would pull off a psi greater than that. And I'm kinda supprised that no one mentioned the error on my site which has been running for over 5 months now. But thanks again.
-brainfarth
Up Topic Welding Industry / Technical Discussions / Acetylene

Powered by mwForum 2.29.2 © 1999-2013 Markus Wichitill