Gas Pressure Welding Method of Rails by Mixed Gas of Hydrogen and Ethylene Gas

Abstract

Gas pressure welding (GPW) is a solid phase welding method. This method is commonly used for rail welding in Japan. However, there is concern that the supply of acetylene gas, which is used as the fuel gas in the conventional GPW system, will cease due to the recent tendency of reduction of demand. Moreover, a large volume of CO₂ gas is generated in the GPW process since acetylene gas is a hydrocarbon. Therefore, a new GPW method of welding rails by mixed gas of hydrogen and ethylene gas was developed in order to ensure continued use of GPW in the future. This paper describes this newly developed GPW method.