So you’ve got an Oxygen Regulator, a Flash Arrestor, and a Hose, as well as a Torch. There’s no reason why you can’t keep using them, though there is another alternative I’ll discuss later!
But here’s the catch: you CAN’T utilize Propane or Propylene Equipment! Sorry for the inconvenience, however the interior components are different, and Propane will corrode the materials used in Acetylene equipment (Propylene is around 50 percent Propane).
As a result, switching from Oxy Acetylene to Oxy Propane or Propylene will necessitate the purchase of new gas equipment.
Is it possible to use propane instead of acetylene?
Propane is the most accessible fuel gas alternative to acetylene, and it is typically delivered in cylinders on a deposit basis rather than rented (as is usually the case with Acetylene).
Propane is less expensive for most users, especially those who use Oxygen + Fuel kits infrequently. The only disadvantage of utilizing Oxy/Propane is that it cannot be used for welding. Kits that run on oxygen or propane, on the other hand, are suitable for silver soldering, brazing, cutting, and heating. So, if you don’t want to weld, Oxygen and Propane is a perfect alternative! A flame temperature of roughly 18000C is produced by combining oxygen and propane.
Is it possible to use an acetylene regulator with propane?
There has been a lot of talk regarding the acetylene shortage. Alternative fuel gases such as propane and propylene have been promoted by gas firms. It would be ideal if you could get GENTEC kits for propane or propylene. However, if you currently have an acetylene kit, you might want to consider converting it to propane or propylene.
To begin with, you must still utilize an oxy-acetylene welding kit to complete the work because propane and propylene are insufficient. However, due of their higher BTU, propane and propylene can do a better job of heating than acetylene. Despite having a larger BTU than acetylene, propane and propylene require additional preheat time while cutting. The reason for this is that the heat is concentrated in the propane and propylene second flames. Another advantage of propane and propylene is that they do not have the same withdrawal problems as acetylene because they do not contain the noxious acetone.
You don’t need to replace the oxygen regulator, torch handle, or cutting attachment to utilize your present acetylene kit with propane or propylene. The following are some things to think about:
1. If the welding hoses in your kit are “R” or “RM” classes, change them to T-grade hoses. The hoses have this information on them. You won’t have to bother about T-grade hoses because they’re already included in GENTEC’s costumes. This will save you a lot of money.
2. In terms of regulators, if your acetylene regulator has a CGA510 connection, such as the GENTEC acetylene regulator, you may not need to replace it. Because it is designed to be operated under the same cylinder pressure as propane and propylene and gives a maximum outlet pressure of 15PSI, you can still use the acetylene regulator if your operating pressure is less than 15PSI. If your working pressure is greater than 15 PSI, you’ll require GENTEC 752F-40 or 152F-80 for medium-duty work, and 753F-125 or 153F-125 for heavy-duty work.
3. Replace the heating nozzle with a new one. The GENTEC 172HN series is designed for medium-duty work, whereas the 173HN series is designed for heavy-duty work. Both propane and propylene can be used with the same nozzle. Because the second flame has the highest heat, keep the nozzle’s tip about 2 inches away from the work piece’s surface. You might try holding the flame higher to get a longer effective distance. GENTEC 175HN series multiple-flame heating nozzles, which have a longer elbow and larger heating head than the 172HN and 173HN, are also appropriate for propane and propylene.
4. Replace the cutting tip with a new one. Unlike the heating nozzle, propane and propylene have separate cutting tips. For cutting tip selection, please refer to the GENTEC Gas Welding and Cutting Apparatus catalog’s cutting tip section. In general, propane is represented by the 172CN and 173CN series, while propylene is represented by the 172CP and 173CP series. The 173CHN series is for propane while the 173CHP series is for propylene in machine torch applications.
Finally, remember to check the working pressure of propane or propylene, as well as the oxygen of the heating nozzles and cutting tips you purchase, even though the tip diameters of the cutting tips for acetylene, propane, and propylene are the same. With acetylene, the pressure setup for propane and propylene may be different.
Is it possible to use propane in my cutting torch?
To cut through metal, cutting torches use a gas and blown oxygen; the gas generates heat, while the blown oxygen cuts the metal. Acetylene, propane, and other gases can be used with oxygen in cutting torches.
Which is hotter, propane or acetylene?
If you ask any welder what they want from their welding tools, they’ll usually tell you that heat, efficiency, versatility, and clean cuts are the top priorities, depending on the type of welding they’re doing.
The fact that acetylene burns hotter is one of the most compelling arguments in its favor. When it comes to welding, many people believe that hotter is better. Is acetylene, on the other hand, actually hotter to burn? Yes is the straightforward answer to this question. Acetylene has a maximum neutral flame temperature of 5720 F in oxygen, while propane has a temperature of 5112. However, this does not imply that propane produces less heat.
Acetylene has the potential to burn hotter and perhaps pre-heat metal more quickly. Propane, on the other hand, may rival or even outperform acetylene with the right knowledge, parts, and setup. Obviously, there are numerous aspects to consider. The question isn’t which option is best, but which option is best for you, based on the work you want to do and the tools you want to utilize.
The fact that propane is safer than acetylene is one of the most compelling grounds for its use. Again, based on the numbers, this appears to be the case. Acetylene ignites at concentrations ranging from 2.5 percent to 82 percent, while propane ignites at concentrations ranging from 2.1 percent to 9.5 percent. It’s easy to argue that propane is far safer to use than acetylene based on these figures. However, keep in mind that both of these gases are combustible and must be handled with caution. Regardless of which choice you choose, the same safety precautions should be taken.
Finally, we must consider the great dollar, which is frequently the deciding factor in many commercial decisions. Acetylene has grown increasingly difficult to get in recent years, increasing the cost. Propane, on the other hand, is more readily available and stable for storage, making it more cost-effective. Indeed, the widening price gap between these two welding fuels has prompted many in the sector to explore switching from acetylene to propane.
Propane or acetylene: which is safer?
Welding is a complex manufacturing technique utilized in a variety of industries. The method varies a lot depending on the material being welded, whether it’s magnetic or non-magnetic, ferrous or non-ferrous, and so on. Welding gases are an important part of the process, and several types of gases are employed nowadays. The type of welding gas you choose will be influenced by the material you’re welding with. Shielding gases and fuel gases are the two most common types of gases used in welding. Shielding gases such as helium, carbon dioxide, and argon are commonly used in welding, whereas fuel gases such as propane, acetylene, and propylene are commonly employed. This article focuses on two key types of welding fuel gases: propane and acetylene, as well as their benefits and drawbacks.
A Quick Look at the Major Differences Between Propane and Acetylene Gas Welding
The following are some key distinctions that will help you grasp the differences between propane and acetylene gas welding.
- Flame Temperature: Both of these gases are mixed with oxygen to achieve the proper welding profile for various metals. Propane, commonly known as LP gas or Liquefied Petroleum Gas, produces a flame temperature of 2800 degrees Celsius when mixed with oxygen. When acetylene is combined with oxygen, it produces a flame with a temperature of 3100 degrees Celsius. Acetylene is used to weld or cut the rounded edges of any metal because of its high flame temperature and excellent flame impingement characteristics. The faster piercing of resistant materials will be possible because to the higher flame temperature.
- Thermal Output: The thermal outputs of acetylene and propane are also different. Acetylene has a British Thermal Unit (BTU) value of 1470 per cubic foot, while propane has a BTU value of 2498. Even though acetylene’s flame temperature is higher than propane’s, this does not imply that the latter produces less heat. Although the oxy acetylene combination provides faster preheating than propane, propane-oxygen is used for the majority of welding preheating. This is because propane is less expensive and can produce a large amount of heat, which is required for pre-heating.
- Welding Procedure: First and foremost, propane gas is not suitable for gas welding. When acetylene is burned in the presence of oxygen, a reducing zone forms, which cleans the steel surface. Propane, unlike acetylene, lacks a decreasing zone and hence cannot be utilized for welding.
There are various reasons why acetylene has surpassed propane as a preferred welding gas.
- Welding is no exception. Safety is one of the most important aspects of any production process. Acetylene has a flammability limit of 2.5 percent to 82 percent in the air, while propane has a range of 2.1 percent to 9.5 percent. This may lead you to believe that acetylene is riskier than propane, however this is not the case. Because of its specific gravity of 0.9, acetylene is lighter than air. If gas escapes, the temperature will climb. Propane has a specific gravity of 1.6, making it heavier than air. Any gas leak in an enclosed space will sink and concentrate at deck level, build up, and occasionally go undetected. Acetylene is stored in a porous mass, while acetone is kept in a cylinder, ensuring that it is completely safe.
- Welding of High Quality: It is generally known that acetylene produces a more concentrated and bright flame than propane. In the inner flame cone, propane produces less than 10% thermal energy, but acetylene produces 40% thermal energy. This improves the quality of oxy acetylene welds and cutting.
- High strength steel materials are now employed in a variety of industries, particularly the automotive industry, to help reduce electric consumption. Welders choose electric welding because of the structural complexity of steel materials and the precision necessary while welding or cutting these steel components. Welders have resumed employing oxy acetylene welding, which does not require a power source and can be utilized to weld most types of high-strength steel components.
- Propane has a higher stoichiometric oxygen need than acetylene, which saves money. The volume of oxygen to fuel gas ratio for maximum flame temperature in oxygen is 1.2 to 1 for acetylene and 4.3 to 1 for propane. As a result, propane consumes significantly more oxygen than acetylene. Despite the fact that propane is less expensive than acetylene, the higher oxygen consumption offsets this.
All of the preceding factors will help you see why acetylene welding always wins out over propane welding. Nowadays, acetylene gas welding is done with acetylene gas cylinders. It’s critical that you get these cylinders from a reputable supplier.
What gas can be used in place of acetylene?
There is a shortage of acetylene, the cutting fuel that reaches the greatest temperature for cutting, oxy-welding, and brazing, due to a catastrophic explosion at the main manufacturing plant in Louisville, KY. Without getting into an argument about which cutting fuel is ideal, the current shortage means welders will have to look into alternate fuels and equipment adjustments in order to keep operating.
Propane and other propane-based fuels are commonly utilized as acetylene replacements. In fact, several cutting enterprises have found that converting to propane has reduced their fuel expenses. While propane does not burn hot enough to be used for welding, its outer cone provides a large amount of BTUs. Welders who are used to acetylene will need to alter their practices because the acetylene flame concentrates the heat inside the cone. Cutting with the propane’s inner cone will just frustrate you.
When it comes to preheating metal for cutting, propane takes a little longer than electricity. Preheating using the outside edge of the heat cone, on the other hand, will take significantly less time than acetylene. Welders must make some significant changes in addition to technique changes in order to move to propane and cut well with it.
While many welders rightly point out that switching to propane requires simply changing the torch tip, this minor change will render propane ineffective for cutting. Because propane is substantially heavier than other fuels, it requires a specialized torch (injector style).
Propane can be heated to a greater temperature by using the proper torch and torch tip. Furthermore, an injector torch is said to make cuts that are cleaner and faster than acetylene.
Propylene as an Acetylene Alternative
Propylene, like propane, is sometimes misunderstood as an inadequate cutting fuel because it requires an injector flame to produce optimal heat flow. It also concentrates the heat on the heat cone’s outer edges, necessitating a shift in cutting procedures.
The eight holes in the propylene torch tips make it more effective for pre-heating. To put it another way, utilizing propylene efficiently depends totally on having the right torch and tip set up, as well as applying the right method.
HGX Propane as an Acetyelene Alternative
HGX-3 is a novel additive that can be mixed with propane to improve its performance. HGX propane is the name given to a mixture of propane and HGX-3. Because one gallon of HGX-3 can be mixed with 1,000 gallons of propane, this mixture cuts metal at temperatures comparable to acetylene.
HGX-3 raises the flame temperature of propane gas by 15%, reaching 5400 degrees Fahrenheit, while using 15% less oxygen than acetylene. This makes HGX propane a feasible alternative for welders who are used to the high heat output and speed of acetylene for flame cutting, brazing, and even some welding techniques like aluminum and cast iron welding.
HGX propane, like other alternative fuels, lowers slag and produces a smoother, cleaner cut, but it also necessitates the use of particular tips and hoses.
Resources and Sources
- Basics of Acetylene Switchover
- How to Switch from Acetylene to a Cleaner Fuel
- Propylene as an Alternative Fuel Welding Tips and Tricks
- HGX Technical Specifications
Is it possible to use acetylene without oxygen?
Acetylene decomposes into its basic parts of carbon and hydrogen in a chemical event known as decomposition. This reaction produces a lot of heat, which can cause the gas to ignite even if there is no air or oxygen present.
What are some of propane’s drawbacks?
The most significant downside of a propane heating system is the inability to keep up with tank maintenance. If you own the tank, you’re responsible for doing regular inspections and repairing any leaks or corrosion. It’s possible that you’ll have to replace the tank at some point.
Is a propane torch regulator required?
A high-pressure regulator is required for a propane torch to control the gas flow from the tank’s valve to the torch. The gas tank and torch are serious safety threats if there is no regulator.