College

What do you set the acetylene regulator to when oxyacetylene welding?

A. 15 PSI
B. 30 PSI
C. 5 PSI
D. 20 PSI

Answer :

Final answer:

The acetylene regulator should be set to 5 PSI for oxyacetylene welding. To burn 9340 L of acetylene, 4 tanks of oxygen (each providing 7000 L) are required, based on the balanced chemical reaction of acetylene combustion.

Explanation:

Oxyacetylene Welding and Gas Pressure Settings

For oxyacetylene welding, the acetylene regulator should be set to a low pressure to prevent any risks associated with unstable acetylene. The typical pressure setting for the acetylene regulator is around 5 PSI (pounds per square inch). Setting the regulator correctly ensures a safe and controlled environment for welding. It is essential to consult the equipment's manufacturer specifications or a professional for the recommended pressure settings for specific welding tasks.

Calculating Required Oxygen Tanks for Acetylene Combustion

To calculate the number of oxygen tanks needed to burn a given amount of acetylene, we use the balanced chemical equation for the combustion of acetylene:

  • 2 C2H2 + 5 O2
    ightarrow 4 CO2 + 2 H2O

From the equation, we see that 2 volumes of acetylene require 5 volumes of oxygen to combust completely. Therefore, to burn 9340 L of acetylene, we need:

(9340 L C2H2) imes (5 L O2 / 2 L C2H2) = 23350 L O2

Since each oxygen tank provides 7000 L O2, the number of tanks required is:

23350 L O2 / 7000 L O2/tank
=
3.34 tanks

Hence, 4 tanks of oxygen are required to ensure complete combustion of the acetylene as we need to round up the decimal to the next full tank.