Oxygen is required more than acetylene in flame cutting because oxygen is the oxidizer in the process. In flame cutting, a high-temperature flame is used to melt and remove metal from a workpiece. The flame is produced by combining a fuel gas, such as acetylene, with an oxidizer, which is typically oxygen.
The purpose of the oxidizer, in this case, oxygen, is to support the combustion of the fuel gas and provide the necessary oxygen molecules for the exothermic reaction. Oxygen combines with the fuel gas to create a high-temperature flame that is capable of melting and cutting through the metal.
Acetylene is a hydrocarbon gas that serves as the fuel in flame cutting. While acetylene has a high heat content and can produce a very hot flame, it requires a sufficient supply of oxygen to sustain the combustion process. In order to maximize the heat output and efficiency of the flame cutting process, a greater volume of oxygen is required compared to acetylene.
By increasing the flow rate of oxygen, more oxygen molecules are available to react with acetylene, resulting in a higher temperature flame and more efficient metal cutting. The excess oxygen helps ensure complete combustion of the acetylene, preventing the formation of soot or unburned fuel residue, and producing a clean and precise cut.
Therefore, the higher demand for oxygen compared to acetylene in flame cutting is necessary to provide the appropriate oxidizer for the combustion process, optimize the heat output, and achieve effective metal cutting.