Merryp
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Could a thermal lance with Aluminium fuel be operated with compressed air?
Given the fact that Al can maintain thermite reactions with weak oxidizers, like Fe2O3 or CaSO4, I was wondering if a thermal lance made of Aluminium
could be operated in an "oxygen-assisted", but not pure oxygen atmosphere.
Any ideas?
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Herr Haber
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I thought about giving it a go with Al tubes and Oxygen then realized the tubes would burn way too fast.
Then... looking at some professional equipment I saw iron / steel tubes with inner wires (looks like a high voltage cable) that ressembled Al or Mg.
Interested in your findings.
The spirit of adventure was upon me. Having nitric acid and copper, I had only to learn what the words 'act upon' meant. - Ira Remsen
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Ubya
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Quote: Originally posted by Merryp  | Given the fact that Al can maintain thermite reactions with weak oxidizers, like Fe2O3 or CaSO4, I was wondering if a thermal lance made of Aluminium
could be operated in an "oxygen-assisted", but not pure oxygen atmosphere.
Any ideas? |
yea but in thermite the aluminium is in a powder form, the finer the better. to burn a tube even if only 1mm thick you need oxygen, pure oxygen,
compressed air is not enough
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Merryp
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| Quote: Originally posted by Ubya |
Yeah, I guess so. Would've been neat to make a thermal lance with just a compressor, but that's probably not going to happen. |
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Twospoons
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Given that industry is always looking for the cheapest way to do everything, if compressed air worked you would expect it would be in general use for
thermic lances. Its not.
Helicopter: "helico" -> spiral, "pter" -> with wings
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wg48temp9
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| Quote: Originally posted by Twospoons | | Given that industry is always looking for the cheapest way to do everything, if compressed air worked you would expect it would be in general use for
thermic lances. Its not. |
DiIY plasma cutters work with air and yes there is the extra power from the plasma. I think most of the heat is from the oxidation of the steel
because if you use the plasma supply for TIG welding it can only just weld 1mm steel but you can plasma cut 5mm easily. Thinking about that, the
air blast may increase the voltage across the arc significantly and hence increase the power relative to the TIG but i still think oxidation is
significant if not the primary source of power.
I am wg48 but not on my usual pc hence the temp handle.
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Twospoons
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Sure, but if you turn off the arc, does the steel keep burning in a stream of cold air? AFAIK you need the arc to heat the air (and the steel) hot
enough to get it to react with the steel.
[Edited on 29-8-2019 by Twospoons]
Helicopter: "helico" -> spiral, "pter" -> with wings
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Fantasma4500
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seeing how Al works with water after a bit of gallium, gallium could maybe help with your idea? maybe steam could be blasted through it to act as
oxidizer? they did make aluminium-water rockets, frozen solid. but that was nano aluminium. at the very least gallium-treated Al should be very doable
to powder
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