Designation: D 291 – 86 (Reapproved 2002)

Standard Test Method for

Cubic Foot Weight of Crushed Bituminous Coal1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 291; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope PROCEDURE A—CONE PROCEDURE FOR

1.1 This test method covers two procedures for determining UNCOMPACTED CUBIC FOOT (CUBIC METRE)
the cubic foot weight of crushed coal less than 11⁄2 in. (37 mm) WEIGHT
in size, such as is charged into coke ovens, as follows: 4. Apparatus
1.1.1 Procedure A—The cone procedure for determining an
uncompacted weight per cubic foot (cubic metre). 4.1 Measuring Box, of rigid construction, having inside
1.1.2 Procedure B—The dropped-coal procedure for deter- dimensions of 12.0 by 12.0 by 12.0 in. (305 by 305 by 305
mining a compacted weight per cubic foot (cubic metre), mm), and a volume of 1728 6 5 in.3(0.0283 m36 82 cm3). The
comparable to actual bulk densities attained in coke ovens. exact volume of the box shall be determined by water
1.2 This method is not applicable to the testing of powdered calibration.
coal as used in boiler plants, nor to the determination of 4.2 Cone, conforming to Fig. 1 for filling the box. This cone
weights per cubic foot of coal in storage piles. shall be 2 ft 0 in. (610 mm) high and 1 ft 8 in. (508 mm) in
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units shall be regarded inside diameter at the top, with a circular opening 41⁄2 in. (114
as the standard. Mass may be expressed in metric values. mm) in diameter at the bottom. A slide valve consisting of a
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the sliding-plate shutter and its supports shall be welded to the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the bottom of the cone in such a manner that the valve may be
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- opened and closed with ease by removing or inserting the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- shutter in its supporting slides. The cone shall be supported in
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. a tripod frame having a circular opening at the top of about 1
ft 6 in. (457 mm) in diameter. This frame shall support the cone
2. Referenced Documents so that the top-side of the shutter shall be 1 ft 10 in. (559 mm)
2.1 ASTM Standards: from the inside bottom surface of the box. (See Fig. 1.)
D 311 Method for Sieve Analysis of Crushed Bituminous 4.3 Leveling Bar, a steel strip 2 ft 6 in. long by 11⁄2 in. wide
Coal2 (762 by 38 mm) and approximately 3⁄16 in. (5 mm) thick.
D 440 Test Method of Drop Shatter Test for Coal3 4.4 Scales, platform, capable of weighing up to 200 lb (100
D 2234 Practice for Collection of a Gross Sample of Coal3 kg) and sensitive to 0.1 lb (0.05 kg).
D 3038 Test Method for Drop Shatter Test for Coke3 5. Sampling
D 3302 Test Method for Total Moisture in Coal3
5.1 Gross Sample—For collecting gross samples of crushed
3. Significance and Use bituminous coal, the procedure described in Sections 7 and 8 of
3.1 This test method concerns the compaction of crushed Methods D 2234 shall apply. During the period of collecting
coal to determine either its compacted or uncompacted weight, the gross sample, the increments of the sample shall be stored
for purposes such as charging coke ovens. in a waterproof container with a tightly fitting cover in order to
prevent the loss of moisture. The minimum number and
weights of increments collected shall be in accordance with
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D05 on Coal Table 2 of Methods D 2234. The minimum gross weight of the
and Coke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.07 on Physical sample shall be 300 lb (136 kg).
Characteristics of Coal. 5.2 Laboratory Sample—The gross sample of coal shall be
Current edition approved Sept. 26, 1986. Published November 1986. Originally
published as D 291 – 27 T. Last previous edition D 291 – 86 (1994)e1.
thoroughly mixed and subdivided, without crushing, into four
2
Discontinued; see 1988 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.05. 75-lb (34-kg) portions. This operation shall be done as quickly
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.06. as possible to avoid loss of moisture, and the cubic foot (cubic

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 291

NOTE 1—1 in. = 25.4 mm

FIG. 1 Apparatus for Cone Procedure

metre) weight shall be determined immediately. If this deter- box on the platform scale and weigh it to the nearest 0.1 lb
mination cannot be made immediately, the samples shall be (0.05 kg). Avoid jarring or shifting of the filled box until all
kept in waterproof containers with tightly fitting covers until excess coal is leveled off. Record the difference in weight
the time for making the determination. between the filled and empty box to the nearest 0.1 lb (0.05 kg)
as the uncompacted cubic foot weight.
6. Procedure
NOTE 1—Aside from the character of the coal itself, moisture content
6.1 Before filling the cone hopper, level it in its tripod on a and size distribution of the coal are the two main factors which affect the
solid floor. Pour the prepared sample into a pile on the floor and cubic foot weight. A moisture determination and sieve analysis of the coal
carefully flatten it to about 4 in. (100 mm) in thickness. Avoid should be reported along with the cubic foot weight for proper interpre-
pounding of the pile with the back of the shovel. Take tation of the cubic foot weight. For directions for making these determi-
successive shovelfuls from uniformly distributed points in the nations, see the following:
pile, and allow them to slide gently from the shovel into the Moisture—Test Method D 3302.
Sieve Analysis—Method D 311.
hopper at different peripheral points. This will prevent segre-
gation and packing while the hopper is being filled. Place about 7. Precision and Bias
75 lb (34 kg) of coal in the hopper.
6.2 Center the previously weighed cubic foot (cubic metre) 7.1 Repeatability:
box under the valve of the cone. Then remove the valve shutter 7.1.1 Duplicate results by the same operator in a given
completely, allowing all of the coal to flow into the box and laboratory on consecutive tests determined within a minimum
overflow the edges. Loosen wet coal, not flowing freely from interval of time shall be considered suspect if they differ by
the hopper, by gently thrusting downward through the coal to more than 0.6 lb/ft3(9.6 kg/m3).
the valve with the leveling bar. 7.1.2 When two results are obtained that differ by more than
6.3 After filling the box, carefully level off the excess coal this value, two additional tests shall be made. If the second pair
above the box edge by means of the leveling bar, and place the of results differs by less than the repeatability, the first pair

2
 D 291

NOTE 1—1 in. = 25.4 mm

1 lb = 0.4359 kg
FIG. 2 Apparatus for Dropped Coal Procedure

shall be discarded and the mean of the second pair shall be PROCEDURE B—DROPPED-COAL PROCEDURE
reported as the result of the test. FOR COMPACTED CUBIC FOOT (CUBIC METRE)
7.1.3 When both pairs of results exceed the repeatability, the WEIGHT4
mean of the four results shall be reported, provided that the two
most divergent results differ by less than 0.8 lb/ft3(1.3 kg/m3). 8. Apparatus
Otherwise, all results shall be discarded and the apparatus, 8.1 Measuring Box, specially constructed, externally braced
procedure, and sample shall be examined for noncompliance to ensure rigidity, having inside dimensions of 18.0 by 24.0 by
causes, which should be corrected before redetermining new 8.0 in. (457 by 610 by 203 mm) high, and a volume of 3456 6
pairs of values. 10 in.3(0.0566 m36 164 cm3). The exact volume of the box
7.2 Reproducibility—The reproducibility of this test method shall be determined by water calibration.
is not known. The subcommittee is investigating the reproduc- 8.2 Dropping Apparatus, consisting of the shatter test ma-
ibility of this test method. chine described and illustrated in Method D 3038. It shall
7.3 Bias—This is an empirical method and no statement of consist of a box 18 in. in width, 28 in. in length, and
bias is possible. approximately 15 in. in depth (0.46 by 0.71 by 0.38 m),
supported above a rigidly mounted cast iron or steel plate, not

4
Auvi, H. S., Schmidt, L. D., and Graham, H. G., “Control of Bulk Densities in
Coke Ovens: Studies on Precision and Application of Various Testing Methods,” U.
S. Bureau of Mines R.I. 3935 (1946).

3
 D 291
less than 1⁄2 in. (13 mm) in thickness, 38 in. in width, and 48 in. pile, and carefully place them into the hopper to avoid
(0.97 by 1.22 m) in length. The inside of the bottom of the box segregation. Place each shovelful to one side of the preceding
shall be 6 ft (1.83 m) above the plate. The bottom of the box one until 180 to 200 lb (82 to 90 kg) are contained in the
shall consist of two doors hinged lengthwise and latched so that hopper, avoiding any heaping up of the coal at any one point as
they will swing open freely and not impede the fall of the coal. well as any compacting of the coal with the shovel.
In order to facilitate filling the box with coal, the box shall be 10.3 Raise the hopper containing the coal and allow the coal
constructed so that it can be lowered to a convenient level. This to drop into the measuring box from the 6-ft (1.83-m) height.
is best done by means of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2. Carefully level the excess coal even with the top edge of the
8.3 Leveling Bar, steel strip 2 ft 6 in. long by 11⁄2 in. wide box by means of the leveling bar. Avoid jarring or shifting of
and approximately 3⁄16 in. (762 by 38 by 5 mm) thick. the filled box until all excess coal is leveled. Fill any voids left
8.4 Scales, platform, capable of weighing up to 200 lb (100 in the corners of the box below the top edge by gently raking
kg) and sensitive to 0.1 lb (0.05 kg). the excess coal across the corner. Place the box, or its contents,
on the platform scale and weigh it to the nearest 0.1 lb (0.05
9. Sampling kg). Record the difference in weight between the filled and
9.1 Gross Sample—For collecting gross samples of crushed empty box to the nearest 0.1 lb (0.05 kg) as the compacted
bituminous coal, the procedure described in Sections 7 and 8 of cubic foot weight (see Note under Section 6).
Methods D 2234 shall apply. During the period of collecting
the gross sample, the increments of the sample shall be stored 11. Precision and Bias
in a waterproof container with a tightly fitting cover in order to 11.1 Repeatability:
prevent the loss of moisture. The minimum number and 11.1.1 Duplicate results by the same operator in a given
weights of increments collected shall be in accordance with laboratory on consecutive tests determined within a minimum
Table 2 of Methods D 2234. The minimum gross weight of interval of time shall be considered suspect if they differ by
sample shall be 800 lb (360 kg). more than 1.0 lb/ft3(1.6 kg/m3).
9.2 Laboratory Sample—The gross sample of coal shall be 11.1.2 When two results are obtained that differ by more
thoroughly mixed and subdivided, without crushing, into four than this value, two additional tests shall be made. If the second
200-lb (90 kg) portions. This operation shall be done as quickly pair of results differs by less than the repeatability, the first pair
as possible to avoid loss of moisture, and the cubic foot (cubic shall be discarded and the mean of the second pair shall be
metre) weight shall be determined immediately. If this deter- reported as the result of the test.
mination cannot be made immediately, the samples shall be 11.1.3 When both pairs of results exceed the repeatability,
kept in waterproof containers with tightly fitting covers until the mean of the four results shall be reported, provided that the
the time for making the determination. two most divergent results differ by less than 1.3 lb/ft3(2.1
kg/m3). Otherwise, all results shall be discarded and the
10. Procedure apparatus, procedure, and sample shall be examined for non-
10.1 Place the previously weighed measuring box on the compliance causes, which should be corrected before redeter-
floor of the dropping apparatus and center it directly under the mining new pairs of values.
hopper with the long axis of the box parallel to the long axis of 11.2 Reproducibility—The reproducibility of this test
the hopper. Mark the floor of the dropping apparatus so that the method is not known. The subcommittee is investigating the
measuring box will always be positioned exactly the same each reproducibility of this test method.
time. 11.3 Bias—This is an empirical method and no statement of
10.2 Pour the prepared coal sample into a pile on the floor bias is possible.
and carefully flatten it to about 4 in. (100 mm) in thickness.
Avoid pounding of the pile with the back of the shovel. Take 12. Keywords
successive shovelfuls from uniformly distributed points in the 12.1 crushed coal; cubic foot weight

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