ASTM D4749-87(2007)

Standard Test Method for Performing the Sieve Analysis of Coal and Designating Coal Size

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
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.
This test method is applicable for all types of coals, except for pulverized coals (see Method D 197) 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.
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.
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).
Enough material may not be collected by this test method to meet subsequent test procedures, such as washability analyses (Test Method D 4371). PART A. SIEVE ANALYSIS OF COAL   Top
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 .) Size fractions down to and including 38 m (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 m (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 D 197.
1.4 &si-value; The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other, without combining values in any way.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2007
• ICS: 19.120 - Particle size analysis. Sieving
• Technical Committee: D05 - Coal and Coke
• Drafting Committee: D05.07 - Physical Characteristics of Coal

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D4749 − 87 (Reapproved2007)
Standard Test Method for
Performing the Sieve Analysis of Coal and Designating Coal
Size
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4749; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber 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 Department of Defense.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This test method covers procedures for determining the
D197Test Method for Sampling and Fineness Test of
sieve analysis of coal and designating the size of coal from
Pulverized Coal
sieve analysis data. Raw as well as prepared (crushed, cleaned
D346Practice for Collection and Preparation of Coke
or screened) coals can be tested by this test method.
Samples for Laboratory Analysis
1.2 This test method explains how to designate coal sizes
D388Classification of Coals by Rank
from the results of sieve analysis data in order to represent the D2013Practice for Preparing Coal Samples for Analysis
condition of the coal as sold. In the case of special mixtures or D2234/D2234MPractice for Collection of a Gross Sample
of Coal
coals with noncontinuous ranges of sizes, a sufficiently com-
D3302Test Method for Total Moisture in Coal
plete sieve analysis must be made to properly describe the size
D4371Test Method for Determining the Washability Char-
distribution.
acteristics of Coal
1.3 This test method is not applicable for determining the
E11Specification forWovenWireTest Sieve Cloth andTest
sieve analysis nor for designating the size of pulverized coal.
Sieves
(See Note 1.) Size fractions down to and including 38 µm (No.
E323Specification for Perforated-Plate Sieves for Testing
400 U.S.A. Standard Series) can be treated by the methods
Purposes
discussed in this test method. Methods for handling size
2.2 Other Document:
fractions below 38 µm (No. 400) will be developed by this SpecificationC-80CommonwealthofPennsylvania,Depart-
committee. ment of General Services, Bureau of Purchases, Specifi-
cation for Coal:Anthracite
NOTE1—Forpowderedorpulverizedcoalasisfiredintosteamboilers,
refer to Test Method D197.
3. Descriptions of Terms Specific to this Standard
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3.1 as-mined coal—same as ROM coal (3.8).
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
3.2 as-shipped or produced coal—raw or prepared coal in
only. The values stated in each system may not be exact
any state or condition at which it leaves the mine property or
equivalents; therefore, each system must be used indepen-
loading facility.
dently of the other, without combining values in any way.
3.3 bottomsize, nominal—the sieve designating the lower
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
limit or bottomsize shall be that sieve of the series given in
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the Section 6 with the largest openings through which passes a
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- total of less than 15% of the sample. This defined bottomsize
is not to be confused with the size of the smallest particles in
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
the lot. (Warning—In the case of a commercial, double-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1 3
screened product, for example, 37.5 by 9.5 mm (1 ⁄2 by ⁄8 in.),
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 [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Characteristics of Coal. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2007. Published October 2007. Originally the ASTM website.
´1 3
approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D4749–87 (2002) . Available from Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dept. of General Services,
DOI: 10.1520/D4749-87R07. 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
D4749 − 87 (2007)
this designation may not be valid. In such commercial or or for commercial purposes. This is covered in Part A of this
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
3.4 dry sieving—forthepurposesofthistestmethod,thetest steam boilers. Low rank coals, that is, lignites, subbituminous,
method for the sieving of coal after the sample has been
andhighvolatilebituminousC,mustbedriedwithcautionand
air-dried under prescribed conditions; this is generally used handledwithcaretominimizedeteriorationorsizedegradation
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
3.5 opening—for the purpose of this test method, openings
of coal at sizes from 200 mm (8 in.) to 38 µm (No. 400 U.S.A.
and apertures shall be regarded as synonomous terms. Dimen- Standard). Methods for sizing materials below 38 µm are
sions for round and square openings shall be determined as
outside the scope of this test method.
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
hasbeenmanuallyormechanicallycleaned.Thisincludescoal 4.4 This test method also concerns the designation of a coal
sample as to its upper (nominal top-size) and lower (nominal
that has been processed over a picking table or air tables,
through a breaker, jig, or other device which segregates bottom-size)limitingsizesforthepurposeofcharacterizingthe
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
has not been mechanically cleaned (including coal that has not 4.5 Enough material may not be collected by this test
been through a breaker which normally rejects oversize) is method to meet subsequent test procedures, such as washabil-
considered to be raw coal. Coal delivered to the surface from ity analyses (Test Method D4371).
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
sample does not exceed 25 mm (1 in.), standard 203-mm
off-the-roadhaultruck,dumphopperwhichfeedsapit-to-plant
(8-in.) diameter, 50-mm (2-in.) deep sieves or sieves with
conveyor, etc. For both underground and surface mines, ROM
larger diameters (for example 300 mm (12 in.) or 450 mm (18
coal is as-mined and has not been exposed to any treatment
in.)) are recommended. For special cases, and with small
such as breaking, crushing, or cleaning except for that done by
samples,75-mm(3-in.)and150-mm(6-in.)diametersievesare
thenormaloperationsusedtoextractthecoalfromtheground,
available.
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
or topsize shall be that sieve of the series given in Section 6
stainless steel cloth.
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.
3.10 wet sieving—for the purposes of this test method, the
5.1.1.5 For more complete details of standard test sieves,
testmethodforthesievingofcoalthatuseswaterasamedium
including methods of checking and calibrating the sieves, see
forfacilitatingthesegregationofthesampleintoparticlesizes;
Specification E11.
this is generally used when testing coal particles 600 µm (No.
5.1.2 Perforated Plate Sieves:
30 U.S.A. Standard Series) or smaller.
5.1.2.1 Perforated plate sieves, made to conform to Speci-
fication E323, are available with square apertures from 125
4. Significance and Use
mm (5 in.) to 3.36 mm (0.132 in.) and with staggered round
4.1 This test method concerns the sieving of coal into apertures from 125 mm (5 in.) to 1 mm (0.038 in.). The sizes
designated size fractions for the purpose of characterizing the of successive apertures in the series follow the same ratio as in
materialastoitsparticlesizedistributionforfurtherprocessing Specification E11 for sieves.
D4749 − 87 (2007)
5.1.2.2 Standard frames for perforated plate sieves with 5.2.4.2 Continuous—Continuous mechanical sieve shakers
apertures4.00mmandlargeraremadeofhardwoodorsteelto are unacceptable for the purpose of this test method. Continu-
hold 300-mm (12-in.), 400-mm (16-in.), or 450-mm (18-in.) ous mechanical sieve shakers are those in which a continuous
square sieve plates. For apertures smaller than 4.00 mm, stream of coal is fed into the apparatus and over a set of
203-mm (8-in.) circular frames as well as the above larger inclined sieves. The retention time on these sieves depends
square frames may be used. upon the degree of inclination, the throw of the sieves, and the
frequency of mechanical action. The various size fractions are
5.1.2.3 In general, round hole sieves with staggered open-
collected in individual containers in a continuous stream.
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
usedinthesametest(forexample,inananalysisfrom125mm
6.1 Crushed Bituminous, Subbituminous, and Lignitic
(5 in.) to 250 µm (No. 60)) or where results with perforated
Coals:
sieves are to be compared with results with wire cloth sieves,
6.1.1 For crushed bituminous, subbituminous, and lignitic
it is better to use only square aperture sieves.
coals, the standard series of sieves shall utilize round-hole
perforatedplatesievesforsieveswithopeningdiametersof6.3
NOTE 3—This action should be taken primarily while performing
mm ( ⁄4 in.) or larger and wire-cloth (U.S.A. Standard) sieves
sieving analyses on noncommercial samples, as, for instance, in prepara-
tion plant component studies (see 6.5.1). In commerce, mixed series are withsquareopeningsforsieveswithopeningssmallerthan6.3
still customary (see 6.1.1 and 6.3.1). 1
mm ( ⁄4 in.).
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
openings).
Round Hole Perforated Plate Sieves
5.1.2.6 Aperture sizes of some sieves for anthracitic coal
(6.3.2.1) do not conform to Specification E323.
200 mm (8 in.) 37.5 mm (1 ⁄2 in.)
150 mm (6 in.) 31.5 mm (1 ⁄4 in.)
5.2 Mechanical Sieve Shaker:
125 mm (5 in.) 25.0 mm (1 in.)
5.2.1 Mechanical sieve shakers are used in practically all 100 mm (4 in.) 19.0 mm ( ⁄4 in.)
75 mm (3 in.) 12.5 mm ( ⁄2 in.)
laboratories where frequent tests are made. They not only
1 3
63 mm (2 ⁄2 in.) 9.5 mm ( ⁄8 in.)
eliminate tedious hand labor, but, when properly used, will
50 mm (2 in.) 6.3 mm ( ⁄4 in.)
produce more consistent results than hand sieving. They can,
Wire Cloth (U.S.A. Standard) Sieves with Square Openings
however, result in excessive sample degradation when proper
precautions are not taken.Therefore it is important to establish
4.75 mm (No. 4) 300 µm (No. 50)
and to monitor the sieving amplitude and the sieving time. 2.36 mm (No. 8) 150 µm (No. 100)
1.18 mm (No. 16) 75 µm (No. 200)
5.2.2 There are several general types of mechanical sieve
600 µm (No. 30) 38 µm (No. 400)
shakers. One type is designed to simulate hand sieving by
6.1.3 For crushed bituminous, subbituminous, and lignitic
using a circular motion combined with a tapping action. This
coals, an alternate standard series of sieves can utilize square-
type of mechanical sieve shaker is acceptable.
hole perforated plate or steel-wire sieves for sieves with
5.2.3 A type of sieve shaker which will handle a stack of
openings of 6.3 mm ( ⁄4 in.) or larger and wire cloth (U.S.A.
either round or rectangularly framed sieves and produces a
Standard) sieves for sieves with openings smaller than 6.3 mm
vigorous agitation is especially suitable for handling large
( ⁄4 in.). This alternate series shall use sieves with openings of
samples of coarse material. This type of mechanical sieve
the same dimensions as those given in 6.1.2. When this
shaker is acceptable for handling large samples provided it is
alternate series of square openings is used, the report must
not overloaded and prov
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