The real reason is that alternative fuels don’t create any shielding gas. Considering carbon steel alloys melt between 2,500 – 2,800☏, this is quite inaccurate. One big misconception is that alternative fuels can’t be used for welding steel because the flame is not hot enough. With acetylene, the starting point will have darkened by the time the torch reaches the end of the plate. As an example, when heating a large plate with alternative fuels, you can easily heat the whole plate cherry red. Alternative fuels release more of their heat in the secondary flame and create more of a “soaking” or “quenching” type heat. Acetylene releases a majority of its heat (BTUs) in the primary flame, which is why acetylene has a concentrated heat output. Third are the heating characteristics of the gases. Achieving proper flame attachment, or the standoff between the end of the tip and ignition point of the flame, requires using tips specifically engineered to accommodate the particular burning rate of the fuel gas. Alternative fuels have slower rates than acetylene. Second, different gases have different burning rates at which the gas burns back toward the torch tip (while a flame may look as if it’s burning away from the torch, the opposite is actually happening). Because of these differences, operators need to learn different techniques for lighting a torch using alternative fuels. Acetylene is very close to that of air, so it won’t float as much. Natural gas is lighter than air, while propane and propylene are heavier. ![]() 1).įirst, alternative fuels have a tendency to “float” up or down. Without going into too many technical details, there are some important differences in the fuel gases (see Fig. This article sets some of the facts straight and provides hand-held torch operators with the most critical information: how to select the right equipment and how to use the right techniques to successfully cut and heat with alternative fuels. Over the years, an unfortunate number of misconceptions and myths arose surrounding alternative fuels. Common alternative fuels include propylene, propane and natural gas, as well as proprietary gas blends. Successfully switching from acetylene to fuel gases such as propane and propylene requires a modest equipment change and learning a few new techniques.īy John Henderson, senior product manager, ESABĭue to supply chain issues with acetylene during the spring of 2011, industries using oxy-fuel have explored using alternative fuels for their heating and cutting requirements.
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