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Why is acetylene gas cylinder for gas welding to be erected in upright position?

Acetylene gas is commonly used for gas welding because of its simplicity in production and transportation and its ability to achieve high temperature in combustion (e.g. around 5,000o F).

Acetylene is highly unstable and flammable and would explode in elevated pressure when reacting with oxygen in air. Storing acetylene gas in cylinders under pressure is very dangerous. Gas acetylene used for welding purposes is stored in cylinders of liquid acetone contained in porous material (like firebrick). This is for cooling purpose in the event of thermal decomposition and to ensure that there is no free space left for acetylene gas. It also prevents the formation of high-pressure air pockets inside the cylinder. Dissolved acetylene in acetone will no longer be in contact with oxygen and is not subject to decomposition. Acetone is used because it is capable of dissolving large amount of acetylene gas under pressure without changing the nature of the gas.

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The cylinders for gas welding i.e. oxygen cylinders and acetylene cylinders, when not in use should be stored separately because any mixture of these gases resulting from accidental leakage can be highly explosive. When in use, acetylene cylinders should always be kept in upright position. Otherwise, acetone liquid will be drawn from the cylinders with the gas if they are kept horizontally, resulting in significant leakage of acetone liquid will result.

acetylene gas cylinder

Note: Oxygen and acetylene gas cylinders are commonly used in construction sites for gas welding.

This question is taken from book named – A Self Learning Manual – Mastering Different Fields of Civil Engineering Works (VC-Q-A-Method) by Vincent T. H. CHU.

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Kanwarjot Singh

Kanwarjot Singh is the founder of Civil Engineering Portal, a leading civil engineering website which has been awarded as the best online publication by CIDC. He did his BE civil from Thapar University, Patiala and has been working on this website with his team of Civil Engineers.

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26 comments on "Why is acetylene gas cylinder for gas welding to be erected in upright position?"

atulkumarsingh says:

how much pressure is required for gas cutting

V.C.DIXIT says:

How to check the ACETYLENE CYLINDER RECEIVED IS FULL OR HALF FILLED.

Neil Rout says:

why LPG gas is not allowed in construction site for gas cutting activity and acetylene & oxygen used for that

sailesh krishnan says:

LPG can only used for commercial purpose and not for industrial purpose. LPG is more dangerous than acetylene when considering safety factor. And is not possible to get internation standered flash back arrestor. Duplicate are available in market

sailesh

MD DANISH says:

yes..TRY to look for the MESSER make FLASHBACK ARRESTORS…

SUBODH says:

LPG CUTTING CAUSES MATERIAL PROPERTY DEFORMATION & IMPURITY IN THE MATERIAL.

tushar says:

Hello Neil,

Due to following basic safety reasons LPG cylinders are not allowed to use at construction site-
The wall thickness of LPG cylinder is too thin (compare to DA cylinders) and it’s not having safety valve provision like DA cylinders hence in the event of fire LPG cylinders usually explode.

Regard
Tushar

M.G.MOHAN says:

LPG gas or DA gas which one is safer to use in constrruction site for gas cutting actvity

M.G.MOHAN says:

Any legal approval is require to use LPG or DA gas in construction site

M.G.MOHAN says:

Please advise whether the Construction site safety regulations issued by the Government of Karnataka/Government of India prohibit the use of LPG on construction sites

M.G.MOHAN says:

what are all the advantages and disadvantages while using LPG and DA gas in construction site for gas cutting

Md Rezaul haque says:

LPG can be used for the purpose of cutting in industry.If can not be.then why.? and acetylene is safer why..? I want detail of these question..please forward me..i need of it..

p v john says:

why oxygen and ACETYLENE cyliders to be kept away in storage and kept close when both together in use ?.

MD DANISH says:

There is nothing such thing to keep cylinders apart,check their valves are closed tightly during storage…No leakages should be there from any cylinders..

DEY Sanjib says:

As related to safety professional a pen down my view . In my point of view LPG and Acetylene both we can use for Industrial/construction purpose under some specific rules and regulations. In case of LPG we can use industrial LPG cylinder ( 19 kg approx ) and for acetylene there is no bar for, because it’s comes with industrial/construction purpose. During usage of these we have to follow all safety norms to avoid any incidents i.e. flash back arrester/NRV, hose clump.pressure gauge, splint lighter, nozzles trip cleaner etc.Hope the information is quite useful for all those.

taimoor says:

why oxygen cylinder is long in shape the acetylene

VINODH V says:

is there flash back arrestor available for LPG? If so where can we get it and what is it calle

jimmydinks says:

There is a gas used here in California called MAPP gas. It’s a mixture of acetylene, propane, methane and another (P) gas of some sort.

khaled ahmed says:

why LPG gas is dangerous compare with DA gas i need the the solution.plz forward to me as soon as possible

roshan says:

1Q.how much pressure is required for gas cutting
2Q.How to check the ACETYLENE CYLINDER RECEIVED IS FULL OR HALF FILLED
3Q.LPG can be used for the purpose of cutting in industry.If can not be.then why.? and acetylene is safer why..? I want detail of these question..please forward me..i need of it..
4Q.why LPG gas is dangerous compare with DA gas i need the the solution.plz forward to me as soon as possible
5Q. When fire catches to the acetylene cylinder then how to switch off fire.. Pl ans

Tobeski says:

Why is acetylene gas is being called a dissolve acetylene

mostaq says:

1.what properties make acetylene favourite for gas welding?
2.what are the functions of coating on electrodes?
3.why is an oxidizing flame desirable in welding copper alloys?
4.describe the procedure to be followed in an oxyfuel gas welding operation.
5.how close would you hold an oxy acetylene flame to be the surfaces to be welded?

please ans me quickly………………who knows?

Ivine Kahale says:

what does LPG and DA stands for

SUSHANT TODKAR says:

Liquefied Petroleum Gas & Dissolved Acetylene

Penta.rajkumar says:

How to check pressure gauge.and how much required pressure gauge .

Ramesh maharana says:

gas cutting cylinder set colour code

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