The Components of an Oxyacetylene Torch and Calculating Oxygen Tanks Needed

Components of an Oxyacetylene Torch

The oxyacetylene torch is a tool commonly used in welding and metal cutting applications. It consists of several key components:

  • Torch handle: The part of the torch that the user holds and controls.
  • Hoses: Connect the torch handle to the gas cylinders.
  • Tip: Determines the size and shape of the flame produced.
  • Acetylene cylinder: Contains the fuel gas (acetylene) for the torch.
  • Oxygen cylinder: Supplies the oxygen needed for combustion.
  • Flashback arrestor: Safety feature that prevents the flame from traveling back into the hoses.
  • Pressure regulator: Ensures proper flow and pressure of gas from each cylinder.

Calculating Oxygen Tanks Needed

When burning acetylene gas using an oxyacetylene torch, the combustion reaction requires 2.5 volumes of oxygen for each volume of acetylene. To determine the number of oxygen tanks needed:

Given: 9340 L of acetylene gas

1 acetylene tank volume : 9340 L

1 oxygen tank volume : 7000 L

Calculations:

9340 L acetylene * (2.5 L oxygen / 1 L acetylene) = 23350 L oxygen

23350 L oxygen / 7000 L oxygen per tank = 3.335 tanks

Since you cannot have a fraction of a tank, you would need approximately 4 oxygen tanks to completely burn the acetylene from one tank.

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