Oxyfuel torches use a mixture of oxygen and fuel gas to weld and cut metal. The oxy-acetylene torch is the most common type and produces a very hot flame that can be used for precise cutting or melting. It was created in 1903 by French engineers and uses pure oxygen to increase the heat of the flame. Acetylene is the fuel of choice for most standard cutting and welding jobs, but it is highly unstable and should only be used by trained professionals wearing proper safety gear.
Oxyfuel torches use a mixture of oxygen and fuel gas to weld and cut metal. The oxy-acetylene torch is one of the most common types of oxy-fuel torches. It uses a fuel called acetylene, which is the fuel of choice for most standard cutting and welding jobs. When mixed with oxygen, acetylene produces a constant, very hot flame that can be used to precisely cut or melt metal.
The oxy-fuel welding process was created in 1903 by a pair of French engineers, Edmond Fouche and Charles Picard. They created a torch consisting of a nozzle, a mixing chamber and two tubes. One tube carried a fuel, such as acetylene, while the other carried pure oxygen. Oxygen and fuel mixed in the chamber and were released from the nozzle at a much hotter temperature than previously achievable.
The extra heat comes from pure oxygen mixed with the fuel. The air on Earth actually has a concentration of only about 21 percent oxygen, with 78 percent nitrogen and small amounts of other elements making up the extra percent or so. An acetylene flame burns at about 4m500 degrees Fahrenheit (2,500 Celsius) when mixed with ordinary air. If acetylene is mixed with pure oxygen as in an oxyacetylene torch, the resulting flame will reach 6,300 degrees Fahrenheit (3,480 degrees Celsius).
This extra heat allows the operator of an oxyacetylene torch to create clean, controlled cuts by heating only the thin strip of metal that needs to be cut. An oxyacetylene torch can also be used for welding. When welding with an oxyacetylene torch, the flame is used to produce molten metal along the edge of two workpieces. The pieces are then joined using a filler metal. As the metals cool, they create a strong seam.
Acetylene is the hotter burning of common fuel gases which is why it is useful for welding. It is also highly unstable. Gas pressure should always be controlled by a regulator because acetylene will explode if it reaches a pressure above 15 pounds per square inch. To avoid this, acetylene tanks are packed with porous materials and acetone.
An oxyacetylene torch should only be used by a trained professional wearing proper safety gear. Due to the high temperatures and molten metal, oxyacetylene torches can be dangerous if not used correctly. Operators typically wear goggles or face shields to protect their faces and heavy gloves to protect their hands.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
