Gas-cylinder equipment belongs to the high-risk class. When performing work using such devices, you must know the rules and comply with the necessary safety regulations. Otherwise, there is a real danger to health and life.
There are various gas-cylinder equipment that provide a protective and auxiliary function during operation, these include gearboxes. Depending on the scope of application and design features, they can be oxygen or carbon dioxide.
How to choose a carbon dioxide reducer?
If the gearbox
marked in black with a yellow inscription, which means it is intended for
carbon dioxide
(aka CO2
reducer
). If the background is blue and the inscription is black, it means for oxygen. White markings and red signature - acetylene. And black markings with blue or white inscription are intended for acetylene or argon, respectively.
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Is interchangeability possible?
Some types of welding gears are interchangeable, but not all. So, instead of a specialized CO2 reducer for welding, it is permissible to use an oxygen one, but a reverse replacement is absolutely forbidden.
Oxygen is a chemically active substance, a strong oxidizing agent, so special metals and alloys are used to work with them. In addition, oxygen is pumped into gas cylinders under pressure that exceeds the same parameter for carbon dioxide by more than 2 times.
A welding reducer for carbon dioxide screwed onto an oxygen cylinder can last, depending on its quality, from several hours to a couple of weeks. But the sealing membranes, the main structural element, will inevitably be completely destroyed, as a result of which the device will begin to etch.
To avoid erroneous actions by the welder, different threads are made on gearboxes for flammable and non-flammable gases. For flammable - left, for non-flammable, respectively, right.
Similar threads are found in cylinders for cutting and welding. In this case, the oxygen reducer has a right-hand thread. Oxygen does not burn on its own, but supports combustion. It is explosive under certain conditions.
The oxygen reducer used during welding with a carbon dioxide cylinder faces another threat. Carbon dioxide causes parts in contact with it to freeze to -60 °C. Since the pressure regulator designed for oxygen is not supposed to withstand this operating mode, it will also begin to deteriorate.
Characteristic
- Oxygen - designed to regulate the supply of oxygen in the cylinder. Common markings: SKO - 10-2, BKO - 50 mini, RK-70, RKZ - 500-2. Painted blue, secured with union nuts. Capacity from 10 to 500 m3/hour. The price varies from 1600 to 21500 rubles.
- Propane - regulates the supply of propane. Markings: BPO - 5, SPO - 6, RDSG-1-MTL (frog). Painted red, secured with union nuts. Throughput from 1.5 to 1.6 m3/hour. Price – from 400 to 1600 rubles.
- Carbon dioxide - to regulate the supply of carbon dioxide. Markings: UR-6-6, BUO-5-4. Can be painted black or red and blue. Fastened with union nuts. Capacity 5-6 m3/hour. Price 900-1500 rubles.
- Acetylene - regulate the supply of acetylene. Markings: BAO-5-4, RAO-30-1, SAO - 10. Fastened with clamps. Painted white. They pass from 5 to 30 m3/hour. Price from 1600 to 14300 rubles.
- Argon. Markings are: AR-40-4DM, AR-40-KR1-mr. Color white or black. They pass 1.8-5.4 m3/hour. Price 1400-1750 rubles.
- Helium. For helium regulation. Marked: G-70-KR1, G-70-KR1-m. Fastened with nuts. Color white or black. Bandwidth 4.2. Price about 1500.
throughput (highest value) m3/h
gas pressure at the inlet, (maximum value) MPa (kgf/cm2)
operating gas pressure, (maximum value) MPa (kgf/cm2)
Source
Carbon dioxide reducer, features
A device that automatically reduces the pressure of carbon dioxide inside and regulates the correct supply and stable pressure at the outlet is called a carbon dioxide reducer. This device is designed for installation on gas cylinders. The gearbox can close the release valve shutter in case of termination of work.
Carbon dioxide reducer
The carbon dioxide gearbox structurally consists of:
- Valve and seat with sealing elements.
- A membrane with a solid center in a special chamber.
- A spring element acting on the inlet and outlet valve.
Carbon dioxide gearboxes have many applications:
- Welding processes are carried out in the presence of a carbon dioxide reducer, if the cylinders are filled with carbon dioxide.
- Production direction of synthetic products.
- Chemical production.
- In the food industry, in the production of fizzy (carbonated) drinks.
- In the medical field, during certain types of surgical interventions.
- In the water supply system, carbon dioxide removes alkaline deposits.
- In agricultural practice to provide additional heat in greenhouse structures.
- In the production of paper and pulp, where it is necessary to replace sulfuric acid as a binder component.
Reducers are needed almost everywhere where cylinder equipment with carbon dioxide is used. The purpose of the reducer is to control the gas supply process and stabilize possible pressure drops.
How to use a gas cutter correctly: preparatory stage
First, we will ensure security and prepare everything necessary. You will need:
- Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. Metal cutting with a cutter is carried out at temperatures above 1800 degrees, so we need protection. Carbon dioxide will be most effective compared to powder. By the way, a bucket of sand won’t hurt either.
- Fireproof suit. In principle, the usual equipment of a gas welder will do. It is made of tarpaulin impregnated with a fire-resistant compound. You will also need protective gloves and boots.
- Glasses. It’s easy to get a “bunnies” effect from the brightness of hot gases, so you need regular filter glasses, preferably level 3.
- Marking tool.
- Ear protection. Construction headphones or earplugs.
- Lighter for cutter. Ordinary matches or lighters are not suitable - your hands are too close to the torch. You can buy what is sold in the store under the name “household lighter.”
We prepare the workplace separately. Ideally, buy or make a welding table with an exhaust hood. But a base of fireclay bricks is a good place to start. There should be no flammable objects for 2-3 meters around the work site: paper, solvents, fuel, oils.
Necessary equipment
Now let's assemble the necessary equipment. All we need is:
- Cylinders. To assemble a propane oxygen cutter , we simply buy the appropriate cylinders. This can be done at any shop with welding equipment. They are refillable and can be refilled at the same retail outlet or gas station.
- Sleeves. For propane you will need a class 1 hose with a diameter of 1 to 2 centimeters. It is desirable that it be red for convenience. Oxygen has the same diameter, but strength class 3.
- Gearboxes. They are purchased for each gas separately. We need propane (for example, BPO-5DM) and oxygen (BKO-50DM). By the way, it is impossible to confuse them, since propane has a reverse thread.
- Check valves. At the entrance to the burner, fire arresters are installed, which also have a gas gradation. It is not worth starting the cutter without them, since if there is a bang, the combustion will spread to the sleeve and may reach the cylinder.
- Oxygen-propane burner. You can buy it at any online tool store. For example, GZU 228, G2 Mini 273, R1 142.
That's all that is needed to start the propane-oxygen cutter .
When everything is prepared, you can proceed to working with metal.
How to use an oxypropane torch
Preparing for work
And so, let’s assemble our cutter and check for functionality. By the way, a preventive inspection should be carried out before each start-up to avoid leaks. Especially if the equipment has been idle for a long time or there is a suspicion of a leak.
- First, let's connect the sleeves to the cylinders. The oxygen hose is connected to a nipple with a fitting to the gearbox with a right-hand thread. The propane hose is installed in the same way. We pass all connections with a sealant (anaerobic sealant, tow, fuser).
- We release the gas a little to remove dirt from the hoses.
- Nipples are attached to the reverse side of the sleeve for transferring to fire-retardant valves.
- The burner itself is already attached to them. There should be color markings on it so as not to confuse oxygen with gas.
By the way, it would be a good idea to check the air leaks. To do this, the oxygen hose must be connected to the cylinder, and the propane nipple must be left free. We set the oxygen supply to 5 atmospheres. Touch the free nipple with your hand. If it “sucks in”, everything is fine, you can work. If not, you will need to bleed the injector.
Don't forget to seal all connections.
Let's get started
Now we will look at how to properly cut metal with a cutter . It's not difficult, but you'll have to get used to the angle of the cut. To begin with, we set the oxygen reducer to 5 atmospheres. On propane we set it to 0.5. The proportion of 1 to 10 was chosen because we have gas combustion in an oxygen environment.
Why is carbon dioxide used in a semi-automatic machine?
Carbon dioxide
For metal welding, it is widely used as a shielding gas. It is supplied through a special nozzle in the torch of a semi-automatic machine and reliably protects the welding zone from oxygen and nitrogen in the air, as well as from water vapor.
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How to use a cutter (propane, oxygen): description and instructions for cutting metal with propane
At the professional level, a grinder and an engraver are not always enough. Large volumes of ferrous metal require metal cutting with a gas cutter . Read about its advantages and how to use it in this article.
Advantages and disadvantages
A gas cutter is qualitatively different from simple electric tools in a number of ways:
- Possible cutting of rolled metal of any size. Oxygen-propane can cut through steel up to 20 centimeters in 1 pass. For example, even with a 180th angle grinder you will have to make 5-7 passes.
- Propane is cheap compared to other gases. Compared to the same acetylene, propane is half the price. Moreover, refilling the cylinder is possible at any gas station.
- Other types of cutters have a much lower speed compared to gas. Especially with a grinder or an engraver.
- Formally, a gas cutter can cut any metal. But in comparison with the same grinder, you won’t be able to work with wood or plastic.
- The cut turns out to be very rough due to the low control of the fire needle. Torn edges will form, which will have to be corrected with a file, the same grinder, or emery.
- The thickness of the cut will also be quite large - up to 5 millimeters.
- The combustion temperature of propane in an oxygen environment is 400 degrees lower compared to acetylene.
Top 10 gas cutters
Now let's look at the best cutters for cutting metal that you can buy in the CIS.
Svarog P3
The best cutting torch for one-handed operation, which is necessary in some cases. This model is equipped with a lever blower, without a plastic faucet handle. In this case, the pressing force affects the oxygen supply. True, on the other side of the scale there is a noticeable mass of the burner. It weighs 1100 grams, which with a length of 48 centimeters will be noticeable. It will be difficult to hold it for several hours, especially with one hand. But setting it up is very simple, just by applying pressure on the lever.
It assumes a maximum cutting thickness of up to 30 centimeters with a very economical consumption of combustible gas - only 0.83 cubic meters. By the way, “Svarog P3” can work on both propane and acetylene.
The manufacturer calls brass handles for supplying propane and regulating oxygen a separate advantage. Unlike plastic ones, they hardly wear out, are easy to clean and do not burn through.
KEDR RZP-05
Suitable for when you need to cook at height. This “Cedar” is an elongated cutter (52 centimeters), which will be convenient in a number of cases. True, the weight of 900 grams still remains inconvenient. Also a separate minus is the location of the flammable gas valve. It is located at the very beginning, up to the handle. RZP is intended for low-carbon and low-alloy steels.
What is the pressure in the carbon dioxide cylinder?
Carbon dioxide cylinders
are accepted for filling both with a working
pressure of
150 and 125 atmospheres, with the exception of 40 liter cylinders for filling 24 kg - this is only for 150 atmospheres.
of the cylinder
is carried out once every five years .
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