ASTM D4749/D4749M-87(2019)e1
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Performing the Sieve Analysis of Coal and Designating Coal Size
Standard Test Method for Performing the Sieve Analysis of Coal and Designating Coal Size
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This test method concerns the sieving of coal into designated size fractions for the purpose of characterizing the material as to its particle size distribution for further processing or for commercial purposes. This is covered in Part A of this standard. Raw, as well as prepared (crushed, cleaned, or screened), coals can be tested by this test method.
4.2 This test method is applicable for all types of coals, except for pulverized coals (see Method D197) such as fed into steam boilers. Low rank coals, that is, lignites, subbituminous, and high volatile bituminous C, must be dried with caution and handled with care to minimize deterioration or size degradation during sieving.
4.3 This test method is applicable for the wet or dry-sieving of coal at sizes from 200 mm [8 in.] to 38 μm [No. 400 U.S.A. Standard]. Methods for sizing materials below 38 μm are outside the scope of this test method.
Note 2: The sizing of material that passes the 38 μm sieve is normally performed by optical microscopy, sedimentation, centrifugation, light scattering or obfuscation, surface area measurement, or other such methods. Subsieve techniques are also used sometimes.
4.4 This test method also concerns the designation of a coal sample as to its upper (nominal top-size) and lower (nominal bottom-size) limiting sizes for the purpose of characterizing the material for further processing or for commercial purposes. This is covered in Part B of this test method. Anthracite coal is further designated by a one word descriptive term (see 14.4).
4.5 Enough material may not be collected by this test method to meet subsequent test procedures, such as washability analyses (Test Method D4371).
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers procedures for determining the sieve analysis of coal and designating the size of coal from sieve analysis data. Raw as well as prepared (crushed, cleaned or screened) coals can be tested by this test method.
1.2 This test method explains how to designate coal sizes from the results of sieve analysis data in order to represent the condition of the coal as sold. In the case of special mixtures or coals with noncontinuous ranges of sizes, a sufficiently complete sieve analysis must be made to properly describe the size distribution.
1.3 This test method is not applicable for determining the sieve analysis nor for designating the size of pulverized coal. (See Note 1.) Size fractions down to and including 38 μm [No. 400 U.S.A. Standard Series] can be treated by the methods discussed in this test method. Methods for handling size fractions below 38 μm [No. 400] will be developed by this committee.
Note 1: For powdered or pulverized coal as is fired into steam boilers, refer to Test Method D197.
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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Designation: D4749/D4749M − 87 (Reapproved 2019)
Standard Test Method for
Performing the Sieve Analysis of Coal and Designating Coal
Size
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4749/D4749M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the
year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last
reapproval. A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
ε NOTE—The designation was editorially updated to dual and other editorial changes were made throughout in December
2019.
1. Scope 1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 This test method covers procedures for determining the
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
sieve analysis of coal and designating the size of coal from
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
sieve analysis data. Raw as well as prepared (crushed, cleaned
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
or screened) coals can be tested by this test method.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.2 This test method explains how to designate coal sizes
from the results of sieve analysis data in order to represent the
2. Referenced Documents
condition of the coal as sold. In the case of special mixtures or
2.1 ASTM Standards:
coals with noncontinuous ranges of sizes, a sufficiently com-
D197Test Method for Sampling and Fineness Test of
plete sieve analysis must be made to properly describe the size
Pulverized Coal
distribution.
D346 Practice for Collection and Preparation of Coke
1.3 This test method is not applicable for determining the
Samples for Laboratory Analysis
sieve analysis nor for designating the size of pulverized coal.
D388Classification of Coals by Rank
(See Note 1.) Size fractions down to and including 38 µm [No.
D2013Practice for Preparing Coal Samples for Analysis
400 U.S.A. Standard Series] can be treated by the methods
D2234/D2234MPractice for Collection of a Gross Sample
discussed in this test method. Methods for handling size
of Coal
fractions below 38 µm [No. 400] will be developed by this
D3302Test Method for Total Moisture in Coal
committee.
D4371Test Method for Determining the Washability Char-
acteristics of Coal
NOTE1—Forpowderedorpulverizedcoalasisfiredintosteamboilers,
refer to Test Method D197. E11Specification forWovenWireTest Sieve Cloth andTest
Sieves
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
E323Specification for Perforated-Plate Sieves for Testing
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
Purposes
each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to
ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be 2.2 Other Document:
used independently of the other, and values from the two
SpecificationC-80CommonwealthofPennsylvania,Depart-
systems shall not be combined. ment of General Services, Bureau of Purchases, Specifi-
cation for Coal:Anthracite
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3. Descriptions of Terms Specific to this Standard
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.1 as-mined coal—same as ROM coal (3.8).
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1 2
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D05 on Coal For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
and Coke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.07 on Physical contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Characteristics of Coal. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2019. Published December 2019. Originally the ASTM website.
approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D4749–87(2012). Available from Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dept. of General Services,
DOI: 10.1520/D4749_D4749M-87R19E01. Bureau of Purchases, 414 N. Office Building, Harrisburg, PA 17125.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D4749/D4749M − 87 (2019)
3.2 as-shipped or produced coal—raw or prepared coal in 3.10 wet sieving—for the purposes of this test method, the
any state or condition at which it leaves the mine property or testmethodforthesievingofcoalthatuseswaterasamedium
loading facility. forfacilitatingthesegregationofthesampleintoparticlesizes;
this is generally used when testing coal particles 600 µm [No.
3.3 bottomsize, nominal—the sieve designating the lower
30 U.S.A. Standard Series] or smaller.
limit or bottomsize shall be that sieve of the series given in
Section 6 with the largest openings through which passes a
4. Significance and Use
total of less than 15% of the sample. This defined bottomsize
is not to be confused with the size of the smallest particles in 4.1 This test method concerns the sieving of coal into
the lot. (Warning—In the case of a commercial, double- designated size fractions for the purpose of characterizing the
screenedproduct,forexample,37.5mmby9.5mm[1 ⁄2in.by materialastoitsparticlesizedistributionforfurtherprocessing
⁄8 in.], this designation may not be valid. In such commercial or for commercial purposes. This is covered in Part A of this
or contractual situations, the amount of allowable material standard. Raw, as well as prepared (crushed, cleaned, or
smaller than the bottomsize (for example, 9.5 mm) must be screened), coals can be tested by this test method.
specified by the contract under which the coal is bought and
4.2 This test method is applicable for all types of coals,
sold.)
exceptforpulverizedcoals(seeMethodD197)suchasfedinto
steam boilers. Low rank coals, that is, lignites, subbituminous,
3.4 dry sieving—forthepurposesofthistestmethod,thetest
method for the sieving of coal after the sample has been andhighvolatilebituminousC,mustbedriedwithcautionand
handledwithcaretominimizedeteriorationorsizedegradation
air-dried under prescribed conditions; this is generally used
when testing with coal particles larger than 600 µm [No. 30 during sieving.
U.S.A. Standard Sieve Series].
4.3 This test method is applicable for the wet or dry-sieving
of coal at sizes from 200 mm [8 in.] to 38 µm [No. 400 U.S.A.
3.5 opening—for the purpose of this test method, openings
Standard]. Methods for sizing materials below 38 µm are
and apertures shall be regarded as synonomous terms. Dimen-
outside the scope of this test method.
sions for round and square openings shall be determined as
follows: for round holes, dimensions shall refer to the opening
NOTE2—Thesizingofmaterialthatpassesthe38µmsieveisnormally
diameter; for square holes, dimensions shall refer to the
performed by optical microscopy, sedimentation, centrifugation, light
distance between parallel wires. scattering or obfuscation, surface area measurement, or other such
methods. Subsieve techniques are also used sometimes.
3.6 prepared coal—any coal, regardless of its topsize, that
4.4 This test method also concerns the designation of a coal
hasbeenmanuallyormechanicallycleaned.Thisincludescoal
sample as to its upper (nominal top-size) and lower (nominal
that has been processed over a picking table or air tables,
bottom-size)limitingsizesforthepurposeofcharacterizingthe
through a breaker, jig, or other device which segregates
material for further processing or for commercial purposes.
according to size or density (specific gravity).
This is covered in Part B of this test method.Anthracite coal is
3.7 raw coal—any coal, regardless of its topsize, that has
further designated by a one word descriptive term (see 14.4).
not been manually or mechanically cleaned. Crushed coal that
4.5 Enough material may not be collected by this test
has not been mechanically cleaned (including coal that has not
method to meet subsequent test procedures, such as washabil-
been through a breaker which normally rejects oversize) is
ity analyses (Test Method D4371).
considered to be raw coal. Coal delivered to the surface from
an underground mine is considered to be raw coal even when
PART A. SIEVE ANALYSIS OF COAL
crushing and grinding is done underground. Coal removed
fromthepitofasurfacemineisconsideredtoberawcoaleven
5. Apparatus
when breaking and crushing facilities are provided in the pit.
5.1 Sieves:
3.8 run-of-mine (ROM) coal—inthecaseofanunderground
5.1.1 Wire Cloth Sieves:
mine, it is that coal delivered to the surface by a slope belt,
5.1.1.1 Standard test sieves that conform to Specification
hoist,etc.Inthecaseofasurfacemine,itisthatcoalasitexists
E11 shall always be used.
afterithasbeenremovedfromthepitandplacedintotheinitial
5.1.1.2 Formostsievetests,wherethelargestparticleinthe
means of transportation whether it be an on-the-road or
sampledoesnotexceed25mm[1in.],standard203mm[8in.]
off-the-roadhaultruck,dumphopperwhichfeedsapit-to-plant
diameter, 50mm [2in.] deep sieves or sieves with larger
conveyor, etc. For both underground and surface mines, ROM
diameters (for example 300 mm [12 in.] or 450 mm [18in.])
coal is as-mined and has not been exposed to any treatment
are recommended. For special cases, and with small samples,
such as breaking, crushing, or cleaning except for that done by
75mm [3in.] and 150mm [6in.] diameter sieves are avail-
thenormaloperationsusedtoextractthecoalfromtheground,
able.
that is, blasting, ripping, loading, cutting, etc.
5.1.1.3 Standard test sieves shall be made from either brass
3.9 topsize, nominal—the sieve designating the upper limit or stainless steel frames and either brass, phosphor bronze, or
stainless steel cloth.
or topsize shall be that sieve of the series given in Section 6
withthesmallestopeningsuponwhichiscumulativelyretained 5.1.1.4 In general, these square mesh sieves are used when
a total of less than 5% of the sample. This defined topsize is sizing with sieves with openings smaller than 6.3 mm [ ⁄4 in.].
nottobeconfusedwiththesizeofthelargestparticleinthelot. U.S.A. Standard Sieve Designations shall be used.
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D4749/D4749M − 87 (2019)
5.1.1.5 For more complete details of standard test sieves, 5.2.4 Mechanical sieve shakers can generally be classified
including methods of checking and calibrating the sieves, see into two types: batch (acceptable) and continuous (unaccept-
Specification E11. able).
5.1.2 Perforated Plate Sieves: 5.2.4.1 Batch—Batch mechanical sieve shakers are those in
5.1.2.1 Perforated plate sieves, made to conform to Speci- which a controlled quantity of coal is placed into the apparatus
fication E323, are available with square apertures and mechanical action is initiated. After a controlled time
from125mm[5in.]to3.36mm[0.132in.]andwithstaggered period, mechanical action is completed and the size fractions
round apertures from 125mm [5 in.] to 1 mm [0.038 in.]. The are removed from the horizontal sieves. These types of
sizesofsuccessiveaperturesintheseriesfollowthesameratio mechanical sieve shakers are acceptable.
as in Specification E11 for sieves.
5.2.4.2 Continuous—Continuous mechanical sieve shakers
5.1.2.2 Standard frames for perforated plate sieves with are unacceptable for the purpose of this test method. Continu-
apertures4.00mmandlargeraremadeofhardwoodorsteelto ous mechanical sieve shakers are those in which a continuous
hold 300mm [12in.], 400mm [16in.], or 450mm [18in.] stream of coal is fed into the apparatus and over a set of
square sieve plates. For apertures smaller than 4.00 mm, inclined sieves. The retention time on these sieves depends
203mm [8in.] circular frames as well as the above larger upon the degree of inclination, the throw of the sieves, and the
square frames may be used. frequency of mechanical action. The various size fractions are
collected in individual containers in a continuous stream.
5.1.2.3 In general, round hole sieves with staggered open-
ings are used when sizing with sieves with opening diameters
of 6.3 mm [ ⁄4 in.] or larger. 6. Standard Series of Sieves
5.1.2.4 Where perforated sieves and wire cloth sieves are
6.1 Crushed Bituminous, Subbituminous, and Lignitic
usedinthesametest(forexample,inananalysisfrom125mm
Coals:
[5 in.] to 250 µm [No. 60]) or where results with perforated
6.1.1 For crushed bituminous, subbituminous, and lignitic
sieves are to be compared with results with wire cloth sieves,
coals, the standard series of sieves shall utilize round-hole
it is better to use only square aperture sieves.
perforated plate sieves for sieves with opening diameters of
NOTE 3—This action should be taken primarily while performing 6.3 mm [ ⁄4 in.] or larger and wire-cloth (U.S.A. Standard)
sieving analyses on noncommercial samples, as, for instance, in prepara-
sieves with square openings for sieves with openings smaller
tion plant component studies (see 6.5.1). In commerce, mixed series are
than 6.3 mm [ ⁄4 in.].
still customary (see 6.1.1 and 6.3.1).
6.1.2 For the purpose of simplifying communication be-
5.1.2.5 Results with a given square aperture and with the
tweenconcernedparties,thefollowingseriesofsievesshallbe
same diameter round aperture are not compatible. Therefore,
considered as the standard series for crushed bituminous,
all reports of sieve analysis data are incomplete without
subbituminous and lignitic coals:
designation as to the type of sieves employed (round or square
Round Hole Perforated Plate Sieves
openings).
200 mm [8 in.] 37.5 mm [1 ⁄2 in.]
5.1.2.6 Aperture sizes of some sieves for anthracitic coal
150 mm [6 in.] 31.5 mm [1 ⁄4 in.]
(6.3.2.1) do not conform to Specification E323.
125 mm [5 in.] 25.0 mm [1 in.]
100 mm [4 in.] 19.0 mm [ ⁄4 in.]
5.2 Mechanical Sieve Shaker:
75 mm [3 in.] 12.5 mm [ ⁄2 in.]
1 3
5.2.1 Mechanical sieve shakers are used in practically all
63 mm [2 ⁄2 in.] 9.5 mm [ ⁄8 in.]
50 mm [2 in.] 6.3 mm [ ⁄4 in.]
laboratories where frequent tests are made. They not only
eliminate tedious hand labor, but, when properly used, will
Wire Cloth (U.S.A. Standard) Sieves with Square Openings
produce more consistent results than hand sieving. They can,
4.75 mm [No. 4] 300 µm [No. 50]
however, result in excessive sample degradation when proper
2.36 mm [No. 8] 150 µm [No. 100]
precautions are not taken.Therefore it is important to establis
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