| Author |
Message |
    
Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 11:41 am: | 
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I was enquiring at my welding shop about a cutting torch, and they say I need a regulator for the propane (I already have one on the oxygen).
I have a spare regulator marked as Argon / CO2. Can I use this? (The guy there said no but offered no explanation)
Dean |
eburrows
| | Posted on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 12:17 pm: |
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I doubt your spare reg has the right fittings, and since it isn't a good idea to use a Argon/CO2 reg for propane, I would think you'd have a hard time finding an adaptor.
Regs do tend to be gas-specific. Oxygen ones have to be much cleaner and use special seals compared to a reg for inert gasses (Argon/CO2 for example). And propane is liquid in the tank, so a reg for it probably would want to have some sort of filter, or evaporator for any liquid that might get splashed into it.
Just my $0.02. |
Paul T. Schram (Paulschram)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 02:44 pm: |
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OK, let me weigh in on this one.
Inert gas regulators are never to be used with fuel gases. Oxygen regulators are NEVER to be used with any gas other than oxygen. The standards for the argon/CO2 that was put into the tank from which you are dispensing it are not high enough to ensure there is nothing that would react with oxygen and as such, the contaminants could cause an explosion. Even if you used Analytical Reagent grade gases, this danger exists.
Most of your fuel gases will be in a solution that will vaporize to give you what you want. Acetylene is dissolved in acetone and as the pressure drops, the acetylene vaporizes from the acetone and exits the tank. This is a much more stable way to transport and handle acetylene. The propane will never exit the tank in a liquid form unless you turn the tank upside down, and then, the gas will vaporize very quickly once its pressure is reduced to atmospheric. But, you shouldn't try to burn the liquid as it won't, but then, as it vaporizes and satisfies its LEL, KFB!
Oxygen while it will not burn independently, it VIGOROUSLY accelerates combustion and oxidation. The grease that you inadvertently (I'm being kind) put on your regulator threads will be catastrophically oxidized by that oxygen and will likely explode spontaneously.
Please go out and buy an inexpensive acetylene regulator. We don't want to read about you in the obits. Pawn shops are a good source of rebuildable regulators. Your welding shop can rebuild them for you. I have a Craftsman acetylene regulator that is on its second rebuild.
Danger, just like entropy and friction never takes a vacation.
Be safe,
Paul |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 03:14 pm: |
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"Don't cross the streams... it's hard to explain, but try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and finding yourself confined forever in another dimension"
-L |
Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 04:46 pm: |
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Oh and I didn't know you cared!
No, I get the chemistry Paul, and wouldn't want to mix a greased up reg with oxygen. I just thought a reg for CO2/argon will use normal grease and be compatible with propane, since neither of them are oxidants.
I know stop being such a CB  |
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