Precautions for Using High-Purity Acetylene Cylinders

        A high-purity acetylene cylinder is a container used for the storage and transportation of acetylene, and it is an essential piece of equipment for hot-work operations at construction sites. Its shape is similar to that of an oxygen cylinder, but its structure is more complex. The main body of an acetylene cylinder is a seamless cylindrical gas cylinder made from carbon steel or low-alloy steel through rolling.

　　High-purity acetylene cylinders are painted white and bear the word “Acetylene” written in red paint on their surfaces. Inside the cylinder, a porous filler material is packed, which enables stable and safe storage of acetylene. During use, the dissolved acetylene decomposes and flows out through the cylinder valve, while the acetylene remaining inside the cylinder is re-pressurized and redissolved into the porous filler. Asbestos is placed in a long hole at the center of the packing material beneath the acetylene cylinder valve to facilitate the decomposition of acetylene from the porous filler.

　　I. Inspection of High-Purity Acetylene Gas Cylinders

　　1. The porous filler material inside high-purity acetylene cylinders is typically made of lightweight, porous activated carbon, sawdust, pumice, and diatomaceous earth. Inspect each acetylene cylinder individually, removing any dirt or foreign objects from its surface. Check the cylinder body for signs of burn damage, deformation, or damage to the coating (except for blistering of the paint). Also, examine the cylinder valve or fusible alloy plug for any indications of fusible alloy melting or backfire of acetylene.

　　2. Check whether the inspection period for the acetylene cylinder has expired.

　　3. Check the acetylene cylinder body for cracks, bulges, dents, or scratches, and inspect the base’s welded joints for cracks.

　　4. Inspect the acetylene cylinder for corrosion at all locations, paying particular attention to the bottom and side seams of the cylinder.

　　5. Check the acetylene cylinder valve and accessories for defects or damage.

　　6. Check whether the color of the high-purity acetylene cylinder has peeled off or changed. If the cylinder’s color is incorrect, carefully verify that it is indeed an acetylene cylinder. If the cylinder is new, it should be thoroughly purged. Open the cylinder valve and inspect whether the internal core and valve stem are intact. When using a residual-pressure gauge to measure the remaining gas pressure, ensure that the gauge does not slip.

　　2. High-purity acetylene cylinders must be stored and used in an upright position and must not be placed horizontally.

　　1. Acetylene cylinders are filled with a packing material and a solvent. When used horizontally, the packing material and solvent tend to flow out along with the acetylene, which not only increases consumption but also lowers the combustion temperature, affecting performance. Moreover, this can lead to backfire, potentially causing an explosion of the acetylene cylinder.

　　2. When high-purity acetylene cylinders are laid flat, they tend to roll easily, and objects such as bottles and containers can be subjected to impacts, generating excitation energy that may lead to accidents involving the acetylene cylinders.

　　3. Acetylene cylinders are equipped with shock-absorbing rubber rings to prevent collisions during loading, unloading, transportation, and use. The rubber ring is an insulating material; placing the cylinder on it means the acetylene cylinder is resting on an electrical insulator. This prevents static electricity generated on the cylinder from spreading into the ground and accumulating on the cylinder’s surface, where it could easily spark and cause a fire or explosion. In the event of an acetylene gas leak, such sparks can readily trigger combustion and explosions.

　　4. When in use, the high-purity acetylene cylinder valve must be equipped with a pressure regulator, a flame arrester, and a connected flexible hose. Since lying down can easily cause the cylinder to roll, rolling may damage the pressure regulator, the flame arrester, or pull loose the hose, leading to acetylene gas leakage and potentially causing combustion or explosion.