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Acetylene

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doubleboost:
Hi
I still use carcbde in my caving lamp when the fancy takes me
You can buy it fron most caving shops.
A friend of mine used a acetyline generator for welding up untill 10 years ago
The factory inspector took one look at it and condened it (after he saw a demonstration)
It is now in a musiem
John

AndyB:
Hi all,

Please, please, please, be bloody careful with storing acetylene under pressure.

Acetylene gas bottles are filled with a sponge-like substance called massing, the acetylene gas is disolved in acetone before putting in the bottle.

The problem with acetylene under pressure is that it can self-react in a vapour space, turning into benzine...with a lot of heat!
The massing is to prevent vapour spaces but if a bottle is dropped it can cause the massing to compress leaving, hey presto, a vapour space.

The Fire Service will dump cylinders into a pond or river for 24 hours if they are involved in an accident.
The A14 at Newmarket (Suffolk) was shut for 24 hours after a van carrying cutting gear caught fire.
Not long after, another major road was shut for 24 hours after a service van was involved in an accident while carrying acetylene. Funny thing, the service van was the Fire Service's!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

The heat generated by the self-reaction is enough to blow the cylinder. :bugeye:
A catalyst for the reaction is ferrous oxide...rust to you and me, another is nickel. No stainless steel or iron containers!!!!  :smart:

Dean W:

--- Quote from: AndyB on October 15, 2010, 03:44:43 PM ---The heat generated by the self-reaction is enough to blow the cylinder.

--- End quote ---

Don't you guys have melt out plugs over there?

There's not really any need for all the hand wringing over acetylene.  It's been used safely for ages.
Your car has more heat/explosion potential in it's gas tank.  Use either as they are supposed to
be used, and both are quite safe.

AndyB:
Dean,

You are absolutely correct of course. I just wanted to point out the hazards so that those who are not informed can be. Sorry if I am boring but I used to teach this stuff to lorry drivers as part of their Carriage of Dangerous Goods qualification and the horror stories that some of them tell are enough to make a grown man faint...through lack of eduction.

We have all been to scrap yards where their version of Giant Haystacks is slinging acetylene bottles around like tossing a caber. Obviously he doesn't know...

My point is not to sit on an acetylene bottle that has started to warm up because it has turned a bit cold outside  :lol:

NickG:
Dave, thanks for the info - and for the video's chris, that would be a cool project .. by the looks of that flame, I think it would run the engine!  :thumbup:

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