Fuel Gases Understanding Fuel Gas Properties Major Fuel Gases used in the United States Today

Acetylene: Most Recognized Fuel Gas Propylene: Offered by most Welding Distributors inU.S marketed under various

names (i.e. HPG, AG gas, LinGas and numerous other names). Propane/Natural Gas: Used extensively in the Scrap Industry and Steel Mills

for Preheat fuel Chemtane: Basically propane with an additive

Facts About Acetylene

Flame Temperature (neutral flame) 5720F Btus/cu.ft. - 1490 Maximum safe working pressure - 15psi Volume to weight ratio ft 3/lb - 14.6 Widely excepted as the best fuel gas One of distributors greatest $ ROI

Facts about Propylene

Flame Temperature (neutral flame) - 5240F Btus/cu.ft. - 2371 Maximum safe working pressure Cylinder Volume to weight ratio ft3/lb - 9.7 By-Product of the Petro/Chem Industry Marketed under various names HPG, AG and up to 72 different brand names Competes directly with Propane

Facts about Propane/Natural Gas (Methane)

Flame Temperature (neutral flame) - 4700F Btus/cu.ft. - 2498 Maximum safe working pressure - Cylinder Volume to weight ratio ft3/lb - 8.7 Cost primary reason for use over the years Easily accessible throughout the U.S and the World

Cross Reference Chart BTU release area is a critical consideration

Acetylene releases a majority of its BTUs in the Primary flame which is why Acetylene has a concentrated heat output

- Acetylene has a maximum withdrawal rate which must be considered. This is determined by the cylinder size.

Propane/NG releases the majority of its BTUs in the secondary flame and has a

more soaking type heat, without the withdrawal issues Acetylene has. - Victor has a solution to offer concentrated heat using alternative fuel

(the CHT Adapter see below) Victor CHT Adapter (0312-0089) For heating applications when a concentrated heat is desired (great for straightening, bending and forming of plate). The adapter is attached to a multi-flame elbow and mixer, and then a cutting tip is attached to the adapter using a standard tip nut. The cutting tip is then transformed into a concentrated heating tip with mixed gases flowing through all orifices. The center cutting stream is transformed in to a concentrated heating stream that can be adjusted to get whatever desired length the operator chooses. Different sized tips can be used depending on the heat

desired. It is recommended that the CHT Adapter be used only with alternative fuels with an HPP or HPN model tip (size 5 is good for most applications). What do all these fuel gases do and which one is best?

When mixed with Preheat Oxygen they all produce a flame Temperature higher than the melting point of the Metal to be oxidized and gets

the metal to a fluid point All of the commercially available Fuel Gases have a high enough flame

temperature to achieve the desired results When Cutting, the real work is being done by the Cutting Misunderstandings on just what the Preheat Flames do have caused confusion

and wrong conclusion for a number of years in our industry Answer:

No single Fuel gas is right for every job or customer Alternative Fuel can not be used for gas welding applications The End-User needs to evaluate their applications, and test the fuel gas that they

think will do their jobs