The power supply of gas welding and cutting posts with acetylene directly from generators is associated with a number of inconveniences (freezing of water during winter operation, high water consumption, a large amount of waste, increased explosion hazard).
Therefore, it is now generally accepted that the use of acetylene from a cylinder is more progressive than power from a generator. Acetylene in cylinders has a significantly lower amount of harmful impurities and water vapor.
Acetylene cylinders (GOST 5948-51) are made from seamless pipes with a wall thickness of 7-8 mm. The weight of the shell of a cylinder with a capacity of 40 liters averages 65 kg, and the weight of a charged cylinder is 82-85 / st.
VNII autogenous developed the design of a lightweight welded acetylene cylinder BAS-1-58. It is made of low-alloy steel 4 mm thick, with a water capacity of 60 liters. The weight of the equipped cylinder is 70-71 kg.
The pressure of acetylene in the cylinder depending on the temperature is given below.
Temperature in ° С -10 -5 0 +5 +10 ЗШ | +20 +25 +40
Pressure in atm. 7 8 9 10.5 12 14 16 18 25
During operation, the cylinders are tested every five years with nitrogen at a pressure of 30.
Acetylene cylinders are painted white and have the inscription "Acetylene" in red letters.
Inside the acetylene cylinder is filled with a special highly porous mass impregnated with acetone, in which acetylene dissolves well. When storing acetylene in narrow channels of a porous mass, it is possible to increase the pressure of acetylene in the cylinder to 15-16 atm without fear of its explosion. The dissolution of acetylene in acetone is done in order to increase the amount of acetylene that can be stored in the cylinder. Acetone is a liquid that dissolves acetylene well. One volume of acetone at a pressure of one atmosphere and room temperature dissolves 23 volumes of acetylene.
Birch activated carbon is used as a porous mass. The condition of the porous mass in the cylinder is checked by the filler plant annually.
When the cylinder valve is opened, acetylene is released from acetone in the form of gas and enters the burner through the reducer and hose. Acetone remains in the pores of the mass and dissolves new portions of acetylene during subsequent fillings. The loss of acetone is 40-50 g per 1 m3 and occurs due to the entrainment of acetone vapor together with gaseous acetylene. To reduce the loss of acetone, it is necessary to keep the acetylene cylinders in an upright position during operation.
At an acetylene flow rate over 1500 l / h, several acetylene cylinders must be connected. Gas from the cylinder can be consumed up to a residual pressure not lower than the following values:
Temperature in ° С ...... below 0 ° from 0 to + 15 ° from +15 to + 25 ° from + 25 to + 35 °
Residual pressure in kg / cm2 .0.5 1 2
At lower pressures, a significant vhoc of acetone with acetylene is observed.
To determine the amount of acetylene in the cylinder, you need to multiply the cylinder capacity in liters by the gas pressure in atmospheres and by a factor of 9.2, which takes into account the solubility of acetylene in acetone. For example, if the cylinder capacity is 40 liters, the acetylene pressure is 15 atm, then the amount of acetylene in the bottle will be 40 X 15 X 9.2 = 5520 liters.
Acetylene cylinder valve device
The valve of the acetylene cylinder is made of steel. The use of steel is safe here, and the use of copper and its alloys containing more than 70% copper is not allowed, since acetylene with copper can form explosive acetylenic copper. The valve is opened and closed with a socket wrench put on the square head of the spindle. The valve does not have a fitting. The gearbox is connected using a special clamp with a clamping bolt.
Rules for the operation of cylinders. Transportation of cylinders over long distances should be carried out in spring vehicles. It is forbidden to transport oxygen and flammable gas cylinders together. During transportation, the cylinders must be stacked with valves in one direction and rest on special wooden gaskets with cutouts that prevent the cylinders from rolling and hitting each other.
Liquefied gas cylinders are transported in an upright position with the valve facing up.
It is forbidden to load cylinders on cars and trailed vehicles if there is dirt, debris and traces of oil in the body.
Joint transportation of filled and empty oxygen and acetylene cylinders by all types of transport is prohibited. Transportation of two cylinders on a special hand trolley is allowed.
In the summertime, filled cylinders must be protected from heating by the sun's rays. Caps on cylinders must be screwed on all the way.
Loading and unloading cylinders should be done carefully, avoiding knocks, jolts, falls. Moving cylinders from one room to another should be carried out on special trolleys or stretchers, where the cylinder is tightly secured with a chain or clamp.
Moving cylinders from place to place within the same room for a short distance is allowed to be done by tilting.
Filled cylinders are stored in special rooms. If it is necessary to store cylinders in the open air, for example, in the field, they must be protected from precipitation and sunlight by arranging wooden or tarpaulin sheds.
At the workplace, in order to prevent them from falling, the cylinders must be firmly fixed in an upright position, and there must also be canopies to prevent oil from falling on the cylinders (for example, from an overhead crane).
When performing installation work on construction sites, oxygen cylinders can be placed horizontally on a specially adapted stretcher. Cylinders should be located at a distance of at least 1 m from heating devices and at least 5 m from hearths with open flames.
Storage of cylinders with gases - acetylene substitutes - at workplaces at the end of work is prohibited. Cylinders should be kept in a dedicated storage room.
Do not remove the cap from the cylinder with hammer blows, chisels or other means capable of generating a spark. If the cap is not unscrewed, the cylinder should be sent to the filling plant (workshop).
When working indoors, it is necessary to carefully monitor the tightness of the cylinders.
If a gas leak is detected, the cylinder is removed to a safe place and, if it is impossible to close the valve, it is left under observation until the gas is completely released.
If a leak of flammable gases from the cylinder into the room is detected, work with an open fire should be immediately suspended. Work can be resumed only after the cylinders have been removed and the room has been thoroughly ventilated.
If gas is detected through the stuffing box, tightening the stuffing box nut should only be done with a wrench after closing the valve to the cylinder.
It is prohibited to operate a cylinder with a valve that allows gas to pass through.
In cases where, due to a malfunction of the cylinders, the gas cannot be used, the cylinder must be sent to the plant (workshop) to the filler with the inscription in chalk "Caution-full".
A special socket wrench must be present to open the valve of the acetylene cylinder.
During operation, this key must be on the cylinder valve spindle at all times. The use of ordinary wrenches is prohibited.
If the valve of the oxygen cylinder freezes, heating should be done with clean hot water or steam. Usually the valve is warmed up by covering the upper spherical part of the cylinder and the valve itself with a rag dipped in hot water. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the rags are not oiled and embers do not stick to it.
Do not heat the valve with a burner flame or hot metal.
In workshops with up to 10 welding stations, it is allowed to have no more than two oxygen cylinders and two with combustible gas at each workplace. With a large number of posts, gas supply must be carried out centrally from the ramp. Do not allow the cylinders and especially the stop valves to be contaminated with oil or grease. Fire extinguishers and boxes with sand in case of fire should be in the storage of cylinders and in the places of work. In the event of a fire, “it is necessary to immediately remove the cylinders to a safe place (first of all filled).
Causes of the explosion of cylinders
Oxygen cylinders can explode for the following reasons:
1) when oil or fat gets into the cylinder or on its fitting;
2) if there is any combustible gas in the oxygen cylinder (before filling with oxygen, the cylinder was used for combustible gas);
3) with too much gas extraction; in this case, the gas, passing at a high speed through the valve, can electrify the neck of the cylinder and then a spark may appear. This phenomenon is especially often observed during the cutting process and when the cylinder is on a material that insulates it from the ground;
4) when the gas pressure in the cylinder is higher than the allowable one (the pressure may increase due to heating of the cylinder by the sun's rays or another heat source);
5) in case of poor quality of the material, i.e., a decrease in thickness due to corrosion of the metal of the cylinder; during transportation in winter, there may be a significant decrease in the ductility of steel, and then, when hitting the cylinder, the metal may collapse.
6) when the valve and neck are stained with calcium carbide.
When oxygen is passed under the hood, an explosive mixture of oxygen and acetylene is formed.
Acetylene cylinders can explode for the following reasons:
1) with sharp shocks and impacts, leading to the destruction of the metal of the cylinder or, as a rule, to the subsidence of the porous mass with the formation of voids in it. Subsidence of the mass, in turn, increases the volume of the hollow space in the upper part of the balloon. If the volume of the hollow space exceeds 75-150 cl3, then acetylene, released into this space and being in it under high pressure, becomes explosive;
2) with strong heating (over 30-40 ° C), which reduces the solubility of acetylene in acetone, as a result of which its pressure rises;
3) when the connection between the valve and the reducer is not tight, as a result of which acetylene can escape into the atmosphere, creating a danger of explosion of the acetylene-air mixture in the room and, as a consequence, of the acetylene cylinder.
Gas in cylinders, including acetylene, is stored at a pressure that is significantly higher than that required for its working application. In addition, the pressure of the gas in the container decreases with use and increases with increasing temperature.
In order to lower the pressure to operating values and maintain it at a given level, gas reducers are used, from the Latin Reductio - "return back". Reducers for acetylene are fundamentally different in their design from other gas reducers. This is due to the high chemical activity of acetylene and the explosiveness of both the gas itself and its compounds.
Acetylene reducer device and principle of operation
The principle of operation and design of the BAO 5-5 acetylene reducer is not much different from a typical gas reducer.
The device consists of:
- A supply pipe with a connector connected to a gas source: a cylinder or a gas pipeline.
- A housing containing a gear mechanism.
- A high pressure gauge showing the pressure in the gas source.
- Low pressure gauge showing pressure at the outlet of the reducer.
- A discharge pipe with a connector to which a gas consumer is connected.
- Safety valve for venting gas to atmosphere when the limit value is exceeded.
The gear mechanism, in turn, consists of a membrane, a piston, an adjusting screw, a working and return springs, as well as various gaskets, seals and fasteners.
The principle of operation is as follows: after connecting to the valve and opening the valve, the supplied acetylene enters the gearbox housing and continues to flow until its pressure equals the resistance force of the clamping spring. The spring pushes the piston, and it closes the valve, stopping the flow of gas from the reservoir. In the course of gas consumption, its pressure in the reducer decreases, and the valve opens again. This cycle is repeated many times during the operation of the gas equipment.
Principal design features of the acetylene reducer
The connection to the container is carried out not with a threaded nut, but with a special clamping clamp.
This is due to the fact that the valve of the acetylene cylinder is always made of steel. The use of copper and its alloys in contact with acetylene could lead to the formation of extremely explosive copper acetylenide compounds. In view of this, vessels for acetylene are made entirely of steel, inert to the action of gas. Threaded connections wear out over time from repeated use, the outer diameter of the threaded nipple decreases, and the inner diameter of the union nut increases. Thus, a gap is created through which acetylene seeps into the environment. This could lead to explosion and fire.
Features of the structure of the acetylene reducer BAO 5-5
The clamp is adjusted in the following way. A groove is provided in the gearbox housing that acts as a key to precisely position the clamp relative to the valve. The adjusting screw provides a reliable clamping of the clamp to the body.
The reducer is adapted to work with standard acetylene containers with a pressure of up to 3 MPa and makes it possible to regulate the working pressure in the range optimal for the operation of acetylene torches and welding torches, from 0 to 0.15 MPa.
Requirements for materials
The materials used in the production of acetylene reducers must meet the following requirements:
- Difference in working temperatures -70 + 70˚С.
- Impact resistant.
- Strength and wear resistance.
Due to the increased chemical activity and fire hazard of acetylene, it is forbidden to use copper and its alloys with a copper content of more than 65%, silver, magnesium and zinc for the manufacture of gearbox parts in contact with gas.
Materials used as pads and lubricants should not react with acetone and dimethylformamide.
The gearbox housing is made of steel, silumin or polyamide. Springs, stems and valve discs are made of steel.
To reduce the likelihood of an explosion, the vessel body is filled with a special porous filler. The most widely used filler material is activated carbon.
Advantages of the acetylene reducer BAO 5-1.5
The main advantages of the acetylene BAO 5-1.5 reducer are:
- Improved design for more accurate working pressure setting.
- Reliable cover.
- Universal connector for connecting hoses with a diameter of 6.3 or 9 mm.
- The increased size of the diaphragm allows for more precise pressure regulation.
- Robust case.
- Ergonomic adjustment wheel.
- Support for connection sizes according to Russian standards.
In addition to this, the manufacturer offers a two-year warranty and service support in the territory of the Russian Federation.
Purpose of the acetylene reducer BAO 5-1.5
Acetylene reducer BAO 5-1.5 is designed to reduce and stabilize the gas pressure used in special acetylene cylinders for the operation of acetylene cutters and welding torches.
The reducer is designed to be connected to standard acetylene tanks using the clamp connection method.
Technical characteristics of the gas reducer BAO 5-1.5
Acetylene reducer BAO 5-1.5 has the following technical characteristics:
- Inlet pressure 2.5 MPa.
- Working pressure 15 MPa.
- Gas consumption up to 5 cubic meters. m per hour.
- Tank side connector: special clamp.
- Working connector: Threaded nut 16 pitch 1.5 + nipple Ø 6.3 / 9.0 mm.
- Weight: 880 g.
Safety measures when working with the gas reducer BAO 5 1 5
Acetylene is an exceptional material for its performance. It allows temperatures up to 3300 ° C to be reached, which makes it possible to weld and process the most refractory metals and alloys. The specific thermal energy of acetylene is twice that of TNT, making it extremely hazardous to handle and can lead to serious injury, death and widespread destruction if mishandled.
To understand and consciously follow the precautions for handling acetylene devices, it is necessary to understand the underlying hazards. The gas ignites and explodes under the following conditions:
- A simultaneous rise in temperature up to 480 ° C and pressure up to 0.15 MPa leads to an explosion.
- An increase in the concentration of gas in the air over 2.2%. Contact with fire or simple arcing may result in an explosion.
- Temperature rise above 300 ° C can cause spontaneous ignition.
- Contact with red copper or silver is inadmissible - acetylene compounds with these elements are extremely explosive.
- When the gas reacts with water and aqueous liquids, an extremely explosive precipitate is formed in the form of frost or ice crystals.
When handling acetylene, it is imperative that:
- Monitor the limiting concentration of gas in the air - 0.46% For this, use a gas analyzer. Acetylene is harmful to health and can cause severe intoxication with dizziness and vomiting long before an explosion occurs at a concentration of 2%.
- Place the container strictly horizontally and securely fix it.
- Do not place the container near heat sources, and even more so - open flames.
- Avoid heating the walls of the vessel over 50 ° C.
- Avoid contact with materials, equipment, and wiring containing copper or silver.
- Ensure that the tool and wiring are in good condition to avoid sparking.
- Constantly listen and sniff, which will allow timely detection of a gas leak that has begun.
- Before starting work, inspect the gearbox, cylinder body and valve, as well as hoses for damage. It is strictly forbidden to operate equipment that has cracks, dents, breaks or traces of impacts.
- Close all valves securely after finishing work.
In case of overheating of the container or gas leakage, it is necessary to immediately close the valve and take the container out of the room. If this fails, it is necessary to immediately remove all personnel from the danger zone and call the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Acetylene cylinders
Acetylene cylinder is a pressure vessel specially designed for the storage, transportation and supply of acetylene. Using other vessels for acetylene or pumping other gases into acetylene containers is strictly unacceptable for safety reasons.
The valve of the acetylene cylinder is specially designed in such a way that it is not possible to connect other gearboxes or other devices to it.
The device of acetylene cylinders
The acetylene vessel is made from seamless high pressure pipes. The neck has a thread for attaching a protective cap.
Working containers for acetylene must be painted black with a mandatory inscription in white letters "Acetylene". Cylinders for transportation and storage should be painted white with the inscription "Acetylene" in black letters. On each cylinder, an unpainted place must be left at the junction of the cylindrical part with the spherical part, on which the marking is applied.
The marking must necessarily reflect the type of cylinder, its capacity, the type of gas for which it is intended. The limiting gas pressure and the date of the cylinder verification for compliance with the technical safety requirements should also be indicated. Tanks with an overdue date of the next scheduled calibration are not allowed for operation.
To reduce the danger of working with acetylene, they are filled with a special porous substance - a separator. This substance divides acetylene into small, unconnected volumes and reduces the possibility of simultaneous abrupt heating of the entire mass of acetylene, which is fraught with its explosion. In addition, the porous mass prevents flame backfire.
Most often, pumice stone, activated carbon, fibrous asbestos or polymeric porous material LPM are used for filling. The porous mass is impregnated with technical acetone, which, being a solvent for acetylene, significantly improves the ability of the porous mass to absorb gas.
Acetylene cylinder valve
According to the technical conditions, the valve of the acetylene cylinder may be equipped with either a diaphragm or an ebonite seal.
Operation of cylinders with acetylene
Depending on the type of filler in the container, it is required to fill in a different amount of acetone. For coal - 5 kg and for CVL - 7 kg, respectively. As a result, it is not recommended to simultaneously place vessels with different types of filler on the filling device in order to avoid the overflow of acetone from one cylinder to another.
In cylinders supplied for filling, the pressure of the remaining gas must be less than 0.01 MPa
All cylinders are subject to periodic inspection every 5 years.
Before starting operation, the cylinder must be inspected for damage to the body and valve.
Storage of acetylene cylinders
Taking into account the exceptional explosiveness of acetylene, the following rules for storage and transportation of cylinders must be observed:
- Storage in a horizontal position is allowed, valves must be higher than the bottom of the cylinder.
- There must be at least 1 meter from the storage place to the nearest heating devices or other heat source.
- The cylinders must be securely fastened without fail.
- Acetylene should be stored in a room free from other flammable and explosive substances.
- Direct sunlight is inadmissible, including during transportation. In this case, cover the cylinders with an opaque cover.
Compliance with the rules for handling acetylene will preserve the health and life of people, as well as material values.
For gas welding, the combustion of a mixture of acetylene and oxygen has long been used. While there are practically no problems with the production and storage of oxygen, the situation with acetylene is somewhat different. The receipt and storage of acetylene in cylinders must be carried out in accordance with certain requirements related to the explosion hazard of gas.
Storage of acetylene - general.
Due to the fact that acetylene is explosive not only in a mixture with air or oxygen, but also in a clean state, there is a possibility of explosion of the cylinder in the event of a back blow of the flame, accidental heating by the burner. Storage of acetylene is carried out in transport and small-capacity cylinders of a special design.
To prevent the propagation of a blast wave in an acetylene cylinder, it is filled with a special cast porous mass, which is most often activated carbon, pumice, asbestos fiber. Acetylene pumped in under pressure fills all the pores of the material; to increase the gas volume, the filler is impregnated with acetone, which increases the absorption of the material. For example, up to 13 liters of acetone is poured into a transport acetylene bottle, one liter of which can hold up to 23 liters of gas. In total, the transport bottle can hold up to 6 kilograms of acetylene. This design of the cylinder allows the filler to extinguish the resulting shock waves from the explosion of acetylene, which significantly increases the safety of work.
Acetylene storage cylinders are painted with white enamel, the inscription "Acetylene" is applied to it, under it are the letters "LM", which indicates that the cylinder is filled with a cast porous mass. These labels must be red.
Requirements for checking cylinders.
Acetylene can only be stored in cylinders that undergo constant maintenance and periodic calibration. Acetylene cylinders undergo the following types of checks:
Storage of acetylene in cylinders.
Due to the fact that acetylene cylinders are sensitive to heat, including exposure to sunlight, there are a number of requirements for storage and transportation.
- Cylinders can be stored horizontally with the valves slightly higher than the base of the cylinder.
- The distance from the storage place to the heaters must be more than 1 meter.
- Installing acetylene cylinders without proper fastening is prohibited.
- You can store cylinders in special structures - cages for 20 pieces.
- It is prohibited to place any flammable and explosive materials in the acetylene storage rooms.
- When transporting cylinders, they must be covered with appropriate materials to protect them from direct sunlight.
- When performing welding work, the gas cylinder should be no closer than 5 meters from the place of their conduct. In this case, the gas is supplied through special hoses or steel pipelines. The use of copper pipes for these purposes is prohibited.
The use of acetylene.
Despite the potential danger and the more expensive cost of acetylene (compared to propane), it is indispensable for many types of welding. This is due to the fact that when a mixture of acetylene and oxygen burns, it becomes possible to reach a significant flame temperature, up to 3150 degrees. This temperature, at a high rate of combustion of the mixture, allows welding, cutting, including fairly refractory materials.
This is what makes acetylene an indispensable gas in welding, which, if all the above requirements are met, can be used without creating dangerous situations. It should be noted that the use of modern cylinders is much more convenient and safer than using acetylene generators.
Acetylene is widely used for gas welding and metal cutting. Not so long ago, it was produced using a generator that breaks down calcium carbide. But such an installation, despite all the measures taken, is characterized by increased danger.
Therefore, now more and more acetylene is used in cylinders, which, among other things, is distinguished by its high purity, which allows welding and cutting to be performed more efficiently and efficiently.
Acetylene properties
Acetylene is a combustible gas, the mixture of which with oxygen makes it possible to provide a combustion temperature of up to 3150 degrees Celsius. It is a colorless and odorless substance (technical acetylene has a pungent odor due to the impurities present in it). Acetylene is practically insoluble in water, but its solubility in other liquids is quite high, especially in acetone (up to 28 liters of gas in 1 liter of liquid).
The gas belongs to the category of toxic and harmful to humans, therefore, when using it, it is necessary to take certain measures to ensure the safety of work.
But the main danger associated with the storage of acetylene is its explosiveness not only in a mixture with air, but also in its pure form under certain conditions. At the same time, this gas releases much more thermal energy during an explosion than nitroglycerin or TNT (1.5 and 2 times, respectively).
That is why it is impossible to store acetylene in its pure form under standard conditions.
Acetylene cylinders
The container for storing acetylene itself practically does not differ from a similar oxygen one; it is also made of a seamless steel pipe. An acetylene valve of a special design is installed on it, the fitting of which has no thread (the hoses are attached using a special clamp).
By volume, there are small (5 l), medium (10 l) and large (40 l) containers.
The main difference lies in the internal filling of the cylinder. Since a cylinder with acetylene in a gaseous state is highly explosive, in practice, storage of a gas dissolved in acetone is used. In this case, to prevent the possibility of a reverse flame strike and spontaneous decomposition of acetylene to an explosive state, a special filler is placed in the cylinder.
BAU-A (activated carbon) or porous silicate mass LPM (cast porous mass) is used as a filler. This material occupies a third of the volume of the cylinder, while the porous filler is able to absorb more gas.
In order to ensure explosion safety, acetylene is dissolved in acetone, which is used to fill a cylinder with a porous filler. The amount of acetone is approximately 230 grams per 1 liter of the cylinder capacity, this is what determines how much acetylene in the cylinder can be placed with a full refueling.
When the cylinder valve is opened, acetylene evaporates, which is fed to the working devices.
Requirements for cylinders for acetylene
Cylinders for storing acetylene must be painted white, light gray paint is allowed, while they must have a red inscription "ACETYLENE", in addition, if a cast porous filler is used, the inscription "LM" is added.
As well as oxygen cylinders, vessels for storing acetylene must undergo a technical examination and hydraulic test once every 5 years. The date of the last and next calibration must be stamped in the cylinder passport.
The test is carried out at a pressure exceeding the standard by 1.5 times (35 MPa). In addition, the weight of the porous filler should be checked every two years.
The maximum allowable pressure of acetylene in the cylinder is regulated by GOST 5457-60 and depends on the ambient temperature. At 19 0 С, the pressure should not exceed 150 atmospheres (15 MPa), in most cases the cylinders are filled up to 150 atm.
It is forbidden to operate cylinders in the following cases:
It can not be operated even with strong heating. Violation of all these rules can lead to an explosion of acetylene.
A few words about refueling cylinders
The amount of gas injected, and therefore the price of an acetylene cylinder, is determined by simple weighing. The cylinder is weighed before and after filling, the difference in values is multiplied by 1.09 (the mass of 1 cubic meter of acetylene at 20 degrees Celsius). The standard weight of an empty, but ready for injection cylinder is knocked out in his passport.
Approximately, at least 5.5-7.5 kg of acetylene can be pumped into a transport bottle (40 liters), 1.4-2 kg into a 10-liter bottle, and 0.7-0.8 kg into a 5-liter bottle. In addition, cylinders with a cast porous filler contain more gas than cans with activated carbon.
In addition, it should be borne in mind that with each use of all the gas from the cylinder, about 150 grams of acetone comes out of it, which must be replenished.
Benefits of using acetylene in cylinders
The use of acetylene dissolved in acetone can significantly increase the performance of work on welding and cutting metal.
In addition, the use of acetylene cylinders has other advantages:
- Compactness and portability of welding equipment.
- Acetylene pumped into the cylinder has higher quality characteristics, it is distinguished by high purity, the presence of a minimum amount of water vapor.
- The high pressure of the working gas makes it possible to achieve high stability of the flame combustion.
- The productivity of welding and cutting with this acetylene is significantly higher than when using gas produced by a generator.
Despite the fact that the cost of acetylene in cylinders is slightly higher, the economic effect of its use is significant, and it is explained precisely by the possibility of performing a larger volume of work and high productivity of equipment operating on such a combustible gas.
The porous mass is intended for filling acetylene cylinders. The porous mass includes a compacted filler based on granular charcoal and additionally contains "whiskers" of fiberglass material, mainly basalt fiberglass. The technical result is increased reliability.
The present invention relates to the field of production, transportation and use of balloon acetylene and can be used in the production of acetylene cylinders. Acetylene is a soluble gas. Among the solvents, acetone, which is poured into a balloon with a porous mass, providing a multiple increase in the active surface of the solvent, is most widely used in practice. As a porous mass for filling acetylene cylinders, a very wide range of materials is used (see Miller S. "Acetylene, its properties, production and use." L., 1969), including fibrous (silk, viscose, leather, sponge, flax , animal hair, glass and mineral wool, asbestos), granular (diatomaceous earth, charcoal, pumice, silica gel, peat, bone meal, porous concrete, sawdust, brick, etc.), impregnated and monolithic masses. The main requirements for porous masses are chemical stability in contact with the steel of the cylinder, acetone and acetylene, high porosity and thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, gas collection and low cost. Known fibrous porous mass used in the United States (see Welding J., 27, 1948, p. 445), consisting of an asbestos bundle, tightly filling the inner cavity of the cylinder. The disadvantage of such a porous mass is low thermal conductivity, active removal of asbestos dust with a gas stream of acetylene and the harmful effects of asbestos on the worker. Known is a cast porous mass used by Uraltechgas JSC (see TU 6-21-38-85 "Cylinders for dissolved acetylene with a cast porous mass"), containing quartz sand, calcium oxide hydrate and asbestos, which is a continuous porous block formed at elevated temperature and pressure as a result of a hydrothermal reaction between silicon oxide and calcium oxide hydrate. The disadvantage of such a porous mass is also the presence of asbestos, which causes the danger of lung diseases in workers, both during the production process when filling the cylinders, and during operation. Known granular porous mass, widely used in Germany (English patent 834830, publ. 1960), containing 65% charcoal (preferably beech or alder), 23% diatomaceous earth and 12% basic magnesium carbonate 4MgCO 3 Mg (OH) 2 5H 2 O. Such a porous mass also has the above disadvantages inherent in coal-containing porous masses, namely, the technological complexity of filling cylinders, which provides for filling activated carbon through a narrow neck and then shaking it by free lowering (impact) of the cylinder from a height of 0.7 mm to a wooden base, and an unstable density, causing constant shrinkage during operation, the need to tighten control over density indicators and more frequent repair refilling of the cylinder. Also known is a porous mass developed and used by the Swedish company AGA / cm. Swedish application 2266, NKI 26 V 44, app. 03/25/1925 (USSR patent 3994, NKI 26 V 44, publ. 11/30/1927) /, "Porous mass for filling vessels intended for storing acetylene and other gases"), consisting of round or other shaped bodies from loose porous material filling the gaps between the pieces, while the bodies are made of fibrous, powdery or granular porous material cemented with a binder and covered with a porous shell on the outside, stronger than the core, while the bodies are formed of diatomaceous earth and a binder with fibrous additives materials for strengthening, as well as additives of fibrous materials are introduced into the composition of the shell of bodies or in the form of composite bodies containing an inner core of charcoal, dressed with a shell of kieselguhr with a binder, and loose kieselguhr is used to fill the gaps between these pieces. The disadvantage of such a porous mass is the lack of diatomaceous earth, as well as the great technological complexity and laboriousness of the preparation of the filler bodies and their low mechanical strength, which causes shrinkage and the need for more frequent replenishment of the cylinder with charcoal. As the closest prototype, the porous mass MG-100 for acetylene cylinders was chosen (see ed. Of St. USSR 39915, NKI 26 V 44; 17 case 3; publ. 11/31/1934, "Porous mass for acetylene cylinders"), consisting from a compacted granular filler based on charcoal with a grain size of 1 to 1.5 mm in diameter with a rammed porosity of the mass of about 80% and its liter weight of about 300 g per 1 liter of the inner volume of the cylinder. The specified prototype also has disadvantages of analogues: low mechanical strength of grains of the base of charcoal activated carbon, causing active shrinkage during operation, and the need for more careful monitoring of the condition of the balloon and more frequent refilling of the balloon with granular activated charcoal. The aim of the present invention is to develop a porous mass for filling acetylene cylinders, devoid of the disadvantages of analogues and prototype. The specified technical effect is achieved by the fact that the known porous mass containing a compacted filler based on granular charcoal activated carbon additionally contains "whiskers" of fiberglass material, for example, basalt fiberglass, which are randomly distributed in the volume of the filler and form a reinforcing frame that holds the block of porous mass inside balloon. The authors are not aware of technical solutions with the features indicated in the claims, aimed at achieving the same goal as in the object claimed as an invention, therefore, the proposed technical solution meets the criterion of "significant differences". The introduction of "whiskers" of fiberglass materials into the porous coal mass provides high mechanical resistance against deformation from mechanical stress, excludes settling and changes in porosity along the sections of the acetylene cylinder during long-term operation. Thus, the proposed porous mass for filling acetylene cylinders provides the following advantages: - high chemical stability and non-toxicity of fibrous materials on a glass-like basis; - high stability of the geometric dimensions of the block placed inside the cylinder, sealed and fastened by the penetrating "whiskers" of fiberglass, and, as a consequence, the stability of porosity during long-term operation; - high temperature stability and mechanical strength and, as a result, increased operational safety of the acetylene cylinder; - low cost (large natural reserves of raw materials, high productivity of fiberglass production) and the simplicity of the technology of introducing fiberglass "whiskers" into the porous mass and into the shell of the cylinder. Based on the foregoing, the proposed invention, in comparison with the prototype, provides a positive effect and has the criterion of "positive effect". The use of the proposed technical solution does not require additional re-equipment of enterprises. The first industrial testing of the proposed technical solution - "Porous mass for filling acetylene cylinders" will be carried out in 2000 at JSC "Lentekhgaz".
Claim
A porous mass for filling acetylene cylinders, including a compacted filler based on granular activated charcoal, characterized in that it additionally contains "whiskers" of fiberglass material, mainly basalt fiberglass.
