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10 – Handling of Acetylene.
1. Preliminary remarks • To prevent significant quantities of and water. This decomposition reaction
acetylene from leaking into ambient can occur explosively and can have a con-
Acetylene has particular properties which air, acetylene systems must be leak- siderable destructive effect.
make this gas practically irreplaceable for proof from the cylinder connection to
oxyfuel gas welding and cutting. These the torch. Any leaks that occur must be
properties are also significant in terms of repaired immediately. Acetylene hoses
safety, and must be taken into account must meet the requirements of DIN EN
when working with acetylene in order to 559. Connections meeting DIN EN 560
prevent accidents. must be used to connect hoses to one
another and to equipment. Protect the C 2H2 molecule
This Safety Advice describes the properties hoses from damage, and replace them
of acetylene that are relevant to safety, at appropriate intervals. Close acetylene The higher the pressure and temperature
and provide practical hints for working cylinder valves during work breaks. of the gas, the more readily acetylene
safely with this gas. decomposes. Acetylene decompositi-
• Before lighting a torch, any air present in on is unlikely to occur, however, within
These instructions supplement, but do not the acetylene hose must be purged with an acetylene cylinder, since its volume
replace, mandatory stipulations such as acetylene to prevent the formation and is completely filled with a solid porous
the Acetylene Code and relevant Technical ignition of an acetylene / air mixture in mass whose pores contain the acetylene,
Rules for Acetylene Equipment (TRAC). the hose. dissolved in acetone. This safety system
is effective only if the quantitative ratio
2. Chemical Properties • With a few exceptions, single-cylinder between the dissolved acetylene and the
acetylene systems must be equipped acetone solvent does not exceed certain
Explosion hazard: with a hose check valve fitted to the limits. Acetylene cylinders should therefore
Do not allow uncontrolled mixing of ace- torch, which blocks the flow of oxy- be filled with gas only after the acetone
tylene and air or oxygen gen into the acetylene hose and thus content has been checked and topped up if
prevents the formation of an acetylene / necessary. Transferring acetylene from one
Acetylene combines with air or oxygen to oxygen misture in the hose. Also a flash- cylinder to another is therefore prohibited.
form an explosive mixture that can be igni- back arrestor should be installed directly
ted by a spark or the like, and can cause a on the acetylene cylinder regulator, Despite the presence of this safety system,
serious Explosion. preventing flame propagation into the under unfavourable conditions a decom-
acetylene cylinder. position reaction can occur inside the cy-
To eliminate this hazard, take the following linder. To eliminate this hazard, acetylene
safety precautions: • A single-cylinder oxygen arrestor should cylinders must be protected from excessive
be installed in the oxygen hose just be- heat. Although acetylene cylinders can
fore the torch, to prevent acetylene from withstand long periods of exposure to in-
entering the oxygen hose at low oxygen tense sunlight, direct contact with a flame
pressure. can be hazardous. Welding, and use of any
other kind of flame, are therefore probi-
Decomposes easily bited within 1 meter of a single-cylinder
Protect acetylene cylinders from fire acetylene system. For acetylene cylinder
Do not transfer acetylene batteries containing up to six acetylene cy-
linders (called ”small systems”) this radius
Each acetylene molecule is held together is 3 meters; for batteries with more than
by a ”triple bond” that can break under the six acetylene cylinder it is 5 meters. Wel-
action of heat or extreme pressure. This ding torches and hoses must not e hung on
causes the acetylene molecules to decom- the acetylene cylinders. Stationary battery
Flammable substance warning pose into their components: carbon (soot) systems with more than six acetylene
Linde AG
Linde Gas Division, Linde Gas Germany, Seitnerstraße 70, 82049 Pullach
Phone 018 03.85 000-0*, Fax 018 03.85 000-1, www.linde-gas.com