CEN/TS 15639:2010

Solid recovered fuels - Determination of mechanical durability of pellets

This document specifies a test method for the determination of mechanical durability of pellets. It is intended to be applied by persons and organisations that manufacture, plan, sell, erect or use machinery, equipment, tools and entire plants related to such pellets, and that are involved in producing, purchasing, selling and utilising pellets.
The method specified is not applicable to soft pellets.

Feste Sekundärbrennstoffe - Bestimmung der mechanischen Festigkeit von Pellets

Dieses Dokument legt ein Prüfverfahren zur Bestimmung der mechanischen Festigkeit von Pellets fest. Es ist für die Anwendung durch Personen und Organisationen bestimmt, die im Zusammenhang mit diesen Pellets Maschinen, Ausrüstung, Werkzeuge und vollständige Anlagen herstellen, planen, verkaufen, montieren oder einsetzen und an der Herstellung, dem Einkauf, dem Verkauf und der Nutzung von Pellets beteiligt sind. Das festgelegte Verfahren gilt nicht für Weichpellets.

Combustibles solides de récupération - Méthode de détermination de la résistance des granulés

Trdna alternativna goriva - Določevanje mehanske trdnosti peletov

Ta dokument določa preskusno metodo določevanja mehanske trdnosti peletov. Namenjen je temu, da ga uporabljajo osebe in organizacije, ki proizvajajo, načrtujejo, prodajajo, postavljajo ali uporabljajo stroje, opremo, orodja in celotne obrate, povezane s takšnimi peleti, ter so vključene v proizvodnjo, nakup, prodajo in uporabo peletov. Opredeljena metoda ne velja za mehke pelete.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 07-Sep-2010
• ICS: 75.160.10 - Solid fuels
• ICS: 75.160.40 - Biofuels
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 343 - Solid Recovered Fuels
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 343/WG 4 - Physical/Mechanical tests
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 12-Jun-2013
• Completion Date: 12-Jun-2013
• Mandate: M/325 - Mandate to CEN on Solid Recovered Fuels (SRF)
• Ref Project: SIST-TS CEN/TS 15639:2010 - Solid recovered fuels - Determination of mechanical durability of pellets

Relations

• Replaces: CEN/TS 15639:2007 - Solid recovered fuels - Methods for the determination of mechanical durability of pellets
• Effective Date: 08-Apr-2009

Overview

CEN/TS 15639:2010 is a technical specification developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) that outlines a standardized test method for determining the mechanical durability of solid recovered fuel (SRF) pellets. This standard is essential for stakeholders involved in the production, handling, transport, sale, and utilization of pellets, providing a reliable procedure to assess pellet quality and resilience during handling processes.

The test method focuses exclusively on durable pellets and explicitly excludes soft pellets (with densities below 600 kg/m³). It helps quantify the pellets' resistance to mechanical stress such as shocks and abrasion, which can lead to disintegration and fines formation, impacting fuel performance, dust emissions, and process efficiency.

Key Topics

• Scope and Applicability
  Designed for solid recovered fuel pellets, the standard applies to manufacturers, equipment planners, traders, and users of these pellets and their handling machinery and plants. It is not valid for soft pellets.

• Test Principle
  Pellets are subjected to controlled mechanical impact in a rotating test chamber where pellets collide with each other and against chamber walls. The remaining intact pellet mass after tumbling is measured to calculate mechanical durability.

• Apparatus Requirements
  The testing device includes a rigid, dust-tight enclosure with precise dimensions and rotation speed, a specifically designed baffle, and two sieves-a coarse sieve with openings two-thirds the pellet diameter and a fine 1 mm mesh sieve to separate fines.

• Sampling and Preparation
  Samples are taken according to established methods for sampling and preparation. They are carefully divided, weighed, and sieved to remove initial fines before testing, ensuring consistent and representative results.

• Test Procedure and Calculations
  Samples weighing approximately 500 grams undergo 500 rotations in the pellet tester. Post-tumbling, the pellets are weighed to calculate mechanical durability as a percentage of intact mass before and after testing. The percentage of fines formed during testing can also be reported.

• Reporting Requirements
  The test report should document laboratory details, sample identification, test date, moisture content, number of replicates, individual and mean durability values, fines content (if required), and any unusual observations during testing.

• Limitations
  The test method has not been fully validated under the QUOVADIS project and is subject to ongoing review for potential upgrade to a European Standard.

Applications

• Quality Control in Pellet Production
  Manufacturers use this test to monitor and improve pellet robustness, reduce breakage during transport, storage, and handling, and ensure consistent product quality.

• Procurement and Acceptance Criteria
  Buyers and suppliers can define mechanical durability thresholds to guarantee pellets meet handling and combustion system requirements, minimizing dust emissions and operational issues.

• Machinery and Plant Design
  Equipment manufacturers and plant operators can select or optimize handling and processing systems based on pellet mechanical durability characteristics, enhancing process efficiency and reducing maintenance.

• Environmental and Safety Compliance
  Monitoring fines formation helps manage dust emission risks, contributing to safer handling conditions and compliance with environmental regulations.

Related Standards

• prEN 15357:2008 – Terminology, definitions, and descriptions related to solid recovered fuels, providing foundational vocabulary for interpreting CEN/TS 15639:2010.

• prEN 15442 – Methods for sampling solid recovered fuels ensuring representativeness and consistency in test samples.

• prEN 15443 – Procedures for laboratory sample preparation, essential for accurate and reproducible test results.

• CEN/TS 15414-1 & 15414-2 – Determination of moisture content in solid recovered fuels using oven drying methods; moisture content is a critical factor affecting pellet durability.

• ISO 3310-2 – Technical requirements for test sieves used in pellet testing, ensuring standardized mesh sizes and quality.

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Keywords: CEN/TS 15639:2010, mechanical durability, solid recovered fuel pellets, pellet testing method, SRF pellet quality, pellet mechanical strength, fines formation, pellet sampling, pellet handling, pellet durability standard, pellet manufacturing quality control, European pellet standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2010
1DGRPHãþD
SIST-TS CEN/TS 15639:2007
7UGQDDOWHUQDWLYQDJRULYD'RORþHYDQMHPHKDQVNHWUGQRVWLSHOHWRY
Solid recovered fuels - Determination of mechanical durability of pellets
Feste Sekundärbrennstoffe - Bestimmung der mechanischen Festigkeit von Pellets
Combustibles solides de récupération - Méthode de détermination de la résistance des
granulés
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TS 15639:2010
ICS:
75.160.10 Trda goriva Solid fuels
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
CEN/TS 15639
SPÉCIFICATION TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHE SPEZIFIKATION
September 2010
ICS 75.160.10 Supersedes CEN/TS 15639:2007
English Version
Solid recovered fuels - Determination of mechanical durability of
pellets
Combustibles solides de récupération - Méthode de Feste Sekundärbrennstoffe - Bestimmung der
détermination de la résistance des granulés mechanischen Festigkeit von Pellets
This Technical Specification (CEN/TS) was approved by CEN on 12 June 2010 for provisional application.

The period of validity of this CEN/TS is limited initially to three years. After two years the members of CEN will be requested to submit their
comments, particularly on the question whether the CEN/TS can be converted into a European Standard.

CEN members are required to announce the existence of this CEN/TS in the same way as for an EN and to make the CEN/TS available
promptly at national level in an appropriate form. It is permissible to keep conflicting national standards in force (in parallel to the CEN/TS)
until the final decision about the possible conversion of the CEN/TS into an EN is reached.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2010 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TS 15639:2010: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents
Page
Foreword .3
1 Scope .4
2 Normative references .4
3 Terms and definitions .4
4 Principle .5
5 Apparatus .5
6 Sampling and sample preparation .6
7 Procedure .7
8 Calculations .7
9 Precision .7
10 Test report .8
Bibliography .9

Foreword
This document (CEN/TS 15639:2010) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 343 “Solid
recovered fuels”, the secretariat of which is held by SFS.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes CEN/TS 15639:2007.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association.
CEN/TS 15639:2007 was not converted into a European Standard as the test method specified in this
document was not validated (see [1], [2]).
This document differs from CEN/TS 15639:2007 mainly as follows:
a) Specifications regarding the sieves to be used changed;
b) whole document editorially revised.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to announce this Technical Specification: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
1 Scope
This document specifies a test method for the determination of mechanical durability of pellets. It is intended
to be applied by persons and organisations that manufacture, plan, sell, erect or use machinery, equipment,
tools and entire plants related to such pellets, and that are involved in producing, purchasing, selling and
utilising pellets.
The method specified is not applicable to soft pellets.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
documen
...