Acetylene, the Principles of Its Generation and Use Part 6

21. No repairs to, or alterations in, any part of a generator, purifier, or other vessel which has contained acetylene shall be commenced, nor, except for recharging, shall any such part or vessel be cleaned out until it has been completely filled with water, so as to expel any acetylene or mixture of acetylene and air which may remain in the vessel, and may cause a risk of explosion.

_Recommendation_.--It being the general practice to store carbide in the generator-house, the a.s.sociation recommend that the carbide shall be placed on a slightly raised platform above the floor level.

THE BRITISH FIRE OFFICES COMMITTEE in the latest revision, dated July 15, 1907, of its Rules and Regulations _re_ artificial lighting on insured premises, includes the following stipulations applicable to acetylene:

Any apparatus, except as below, for generating, purifying, enriching, compressing or storing gas, must be either in the open or in a building used for such purposes only, not communicating directly with any building otherwise occupied.

An acetylene portable apparatus is allowed, provided it holds a charge of not more than 2 lb. of carbide.

A cylinder containing not more than 20 cubic feet of acetylene compressed and (or) dissolved in accordance with an Order of Secretary of State under the Explosives Act, 1875, is allowed.

The use of portable acetylene lamps containing charges of carbide exceeding the limit of 2 lb. allowed under these Rules (the average charge being about 18 lb.) is allowed in the open or in buildings in course of erection.

Liquid acetylene must not be used or stored on the premises.

The pipe, whether flexible or not, connecting an incandescent gas lamp to the gas-supply must be of metal with metal connexions.

(The reference in these Rules to the storage of carbide has been quoted in Chapter II. (page 19).)

These rules are liable to revision from time to time.

The GERMAN ACETYLENE VEREIN has drawn up (December 1904) the following code of rules for the construction, erection, and manipulation of acetylene apparatus:

I. _Rules for Construction._

1. All apparatus for the generation, purification, and storage of acetylene must be constructed of sheet or cast iron. Holder tanks may be built of brick.

2. When bare, galvanised, or lead-coated sheet-iron is used, the sides of generators, purifiers, condensers, holder tanks, and (if present) washers and driers must be built with the following gauges as minima:

Holder bells. All other apparatus.

Up to 7 cubic feet capacity 0.75 mm. 1.00 mm.

From 7 to 18 " 1.00 1.25 From 18 to 53 " 1.25 1.50 Above 53 " 1.50 2.00

When not constructed of cast-iron, the bottoms, covers, and "manhole"

lids must be 0.5 mm. thicker in each respective size.

In all circ.u.mstances, the thickness of the walls--especially in the case of apparatus not circular in horizontal section--must be such that alteration in shape appears impossible, unless deformation is guarded against in other ways.

Generators must be so constructed that when they are being charged the carbide cannot fall into the residue which has already been gasified; and the residues must always be capable of easy, complete, and safe removal.

3. Generators, purifiers, and holders must be welded, riveted or folded at the seams; soft solder is only permissible as a tightening material.

4. Pipes delivering acetylene, or uniting the apparatus, must be cast- or wrought-iron. Unions, c.o.c.ks, and valves must not be made of copper; but the use of bra.s.s and bronze is permitted.

5. When cast-iron is employed, the rules of the German Gas and Water Engineers are to be followed.

6. In generators where the whole amount of carbide introduced is not gasified at one time, it must be possible to add fresh water or carbide in safety, without interfering with the action of the apparatus. In such generators the size of the gasholder s.p.a.ce is to be calculated according to the quant.i.ty of carbide which can be put into the generator. For every 1 kilogramme of carbide the available gasholder s.p.a.ce must be: for the first 50 kilos., 20 litres; for the next 50 kilos., 15 litres; for amounts above 100 kilos., 10 litres per kilo. [One kilogramme may be taken as 2.2 lb., and 28 litres as 1 cubic foot.]

The generator must be large enough to supply the full number of normal (10-litre) burners with gas for 5 hours; the yield of acetylene being taken at 290 litres per kilo. [4.65 cubic feet per lb.]

The gasholder s.p.a.ce of apparatus where carbide is not stored must be at least 30 litres for every normal (10-litre) flame.

7. The gasholder must be fitted with an appliance for removing any gas which may be generated (especially when the apparatus is first brought into action) after the available s.p.a.ce is full. This vent must have a diameter at least equal to the inlet pipe of the holder.

8. Acetylene plant must be provided with purifying apparatus which contains a proper purifying material in a suitable condition.

9. The dimensions of subsidiary apparatus, such as washers, purifiers, condensers, pipes, and c.o.c.ks must correspond with the capacity of the plant.

10. Purifiers and washers must be constructed of materials capable of resisting the attack of the substances in them.

11. Every generator must bear a plate giving the name of the maker, or the seller, and the maximum number of l0-litre lights it is intended to supply. If all the carbide put into the generator is not gasified at one time, the plate must also state the maximum weight of carbide in the charge. The gasholder must also bear a plate recording the maker's or seller's name, as well as its storage capacity.

12. Rules 1 to 11 do not apply to portable apparatus serving up to two lights, or to portable apparatus used only out of doors for the lighting of vehicles or open s.p.a.ces.

II. _Rules for Erection_

1. Acetylene apparatus must not be erected in or under rooms occupied or frequented (pa.s.sages, covered courts, &c.) by human beings. Generators and holders must only be erected in apartments covered with light roofs, and separated from occupied rooms, barns, and stables by a fire-proof wall, or by a distance of 15 feet. Any wall is to be considered fire- proof which is built of solid brick, without openings, and one side of which is "quite free." Apparatus may be erected in barns and stables, provided the s.p.a.ce required is part.i.tioned off from the remainder by a fire-proof wall.

2. The doors of apparatus sheds must open outwards, and must not communicate directly with rooms where fires and artificial lights are used.

3. Apparatus for the illumination of showmen's booths, "merry-go-rounds,"

shooting galleries, and the like must be erected outside the tents, and be inaccessible to the public.

4. Permanent apparatus erected in the open air must be at least 15 feet from an occupied building.

5. Apparatus sheds must be fitted at their highest points with outlet ventilators of sufficient size; the ventilators leading straight through the roof into the open air. They must be so arranged that the escaping gases and vapours cannot enter rooms or chimneys.

6. The contacts of any electrical warning devices must be outside the apparatus shed.

7. Acetylene plants must be prevented from freezing by erection in frost- free rooms, or by the employment of a heating apparatus or other suitable appliance. The heat must only be that of warm water or steam. Furnaces for the heating appliance must be outside the rooms containing generators, their subsidiary apparatus, or holders; and must be separated from such rooms by fire-proof walls.

8. In one of the walls of the apparatus shed--if possible not that having a door--a window must be fitted which cannot be opened; and outside that window an artificial light is to be placed. In the usual way acetylene lighting may be employed; but a lamp burning paraffin or oil, or a lantern enclosing a candle, must always be kept ready for use in emergencies. In all circ.u.mstances internal lighting is forbidden.

9. Every acetylene installation must be provided with a main c.o.c.k, placed in a conveniently accessible position so that the whole of the service may be cut off from the plant.

10. The seller of an apparatus must provide his customer with a sectional drawing, a description of the apparatus, and a set of rules for attending to it. These are to be supplied in duplicate, and one set is to be kept hanging up in the apparatus shed.

III. Rules for Working the Apparatus.

1. The apparatus must only be opened by daylight for addition of water.

If the generator is one of those in which the entire charge of carbide is not gasified at once, addition of fresh carbide must only be made by daylight.

2. All work required by the plant, or by any portion of it, and all ordinary attendance needed must be performed by daylight.

3. All water-seals must be carefully kept full.

4. When any part of an acetylene apparatus or a gas-meter freezes, notwithstanding the precautions specified in II., 7, it must be thawed only by pouring hot water into or over it; flames, burning fuel, or red- hot iron bars must not be used.