Comparison

COMBUSTION PROPERTIES

Chem-O-Lene® Fuel Gas

ACETYLENE

NATURAL GAS

PROPANE

Propylene

Flame temperature in oxygen, °F

5800°

5875

4600

4579

5300

Total heating value (after vaporization) BTU/lb

21,570

21,500

24,800

21,548

22,100

Heating value of gas, BTU/ft³

2800

1480

1050

2560

2400

Burning velocity in oxygen, ft/sec

14.3

22.7

15.2

12.2

15.0

Formation Reaction

Exothermic

Endothermic

Exothermic

Exothermic

Endothermic

Primary Combustion Heating Value
BTU/ft³

350

505

55

295

438

Secondary Combustion Heating Value,
BTU/ft³

2350

975

995

2265

1962

Combustion

Ratio

2.1:1

1.5:1

2:1

4.7:1

3.1:1

SAFETY

Chem-O-Lene® Fuel Gas

ACETYLENE

NATURAL GAS

PROPANE

Propylene

Shock sensitivity

Stable

Unstable

Stable

Stable

Stable

Explosive limits in Oxygen, %

2.5-56

3.0-93

5.0-59

2.4-57

2.0-57

Explosive limits in air, %

2.25-9.4

2.5-80

5.3-14

2.3-9.5

2.0-10.0

Maximum allowable use pressure

Cylinder

15 psig

Line

Cylinder

Cylinder

Tendency to backfire

Slight

Considerable

Slight

Slight

Slight

Toxicity

Low

Low

Low

Low

Low

Reactions with common materials

Few restrictions

Reacts with copper and silver alloys

Few restrictions

Few restrictions

Few restrictions

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Chem-O-Lene® Fuel Gas

ACETYLENE

NATURAL GAS

PROPANE

Propylene

Specific Gravity of liquid
(60° F)

0.514

—

—

0.507

0.527

Pounds per gallon

at 60° F

4.26

—

—

4.22

4.38

Cubic Feet per pound of gas at 60° F

8.76

14.5

23.6

8.45

9.20

Specific Gravity of gas (air=1) at 60° F

1.60

0.906

0.555

1.55

1.42

Vapor pressure at

70° F, psig

118

—

—

120

135

Boiling range at 760 mm Hg, °F

-46

-119

-250

-44

-50

Latent heat of vaporization

BTU/lb

183

—

—

184

187