ASTM_E_1037_-_15.pdf

Designation:E103715Standard Test Method forMeasuring Particle Size Distribution of RDF-51This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1037;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method is used to determine the size distribu-tion of a RDF-5 sample.Size is defined as the maximum lengthof the particle,where length is determined by the RDF-5manufacturing process.That is,a pellet,cubette,or briquetteall have a recognizable length.Fig.1 displays the sizes andshapes of some RDF-5 particles.1.2 An air dried RDF-5 sample is separated into categoriesof differing particle sizes.The size distribution is measured asthe weight percentage of each size category.A graph of afunction of the cumulative fraction of material by weight finerthan particle size versus particle size is plotted.From this plotare taken values which describe the size distributiontheuniformity constant and the characteristic particle size.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Terminology2.1 Definitions:2.1.1 RDF-5solid fuel derived from municipal solid wastein which the processed combustible fraction is densified(compressed)into the form of pellets,cubettes or briquettes.3.Significance and Use3.1 The particle size distribution of RDF-5 strongly influ-ences the storage and handling characteristics of the fuel.Smallparticles tend to block flow through storage bins and feedhoppers,although correct bin and hopper designs will alleviatethis problem of blockage.3.2 This test method of measuring size manually allowsaccurate description of RDF-5 particle size distribution.Manual measurement is superior to sieving techniques,wherein particles may be broken by the size separationtechnique itself.However,hand measurement is more time-consuming than sieving techniques.4.Apparatus4.1 Labelled Containers,used to hold the particles whichare separated by size.Appropriate containers are beakers orpans labelled“70 mm”,“60 mm 70 mm”,etc.The tareweight of each container shall be recorded to 0.1 g.4.2 Scale,capable of weighing the sample and containerwith an accuracy of 0.1 g.4.3 Vernier Calipers,a length-measuring instrument havingan accuracy of 0.1 mm.5.Procedure5.1 The sample shall weigh 1.0 6 0.1 kg(2.2 6 0.2 lb)unless otherwise specified.Record the weight of the sample tothe nearest 0.1 g.5.2 Beginning with the largest particles,measure the lengthof each particle in the sample.Separate the particles intocontainers labelled as the size categories of less than 10 mm,10 to less than 20 mm,20 to less than 30 mm,30 to less than40 mm,etc.as needed.5.3 Record the weight of each size category to 0.1 g.5.4 Add the weights of the size components.If this sumdiffers by more than 2%from the sample weight recordedinitially,then reject the analysis and begin another test.5.5 Use the sum of the separate size categories as the totalweight to determine weight percentages of each size fraction.Ifthe weight percentage of any fraction is greater than or equal to25%,then separate that fraction into two portions of 5-mmsize categories.Continue separating the size fraction intocategories of 2.5 mm,1.25 mm,etc.,until the weight percent-age of each fraction is less than 25%.6.Calculation6.1 With each particle size for which there is data,calculatey,the cumulative fraction of the sample less than that particlesize.This is found by summing the weight percentages of allfractions less than that size.Also calculate the value of theRosin-Rammler function for each particle size,as follows:lnS11 2 yD(1)1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on WasteManagement and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.03 on Treatment,Recovery and Reuse.Current edition approved Sept.1,2015.Published September 2015 Originallyapproved in 1984.Last previous edition approved in 2009 as E1037 84(2009).DOI:10.1520/E1037-15.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 6.2 Plot ln1/(1 y)versus particle size on log-log paper.Data points will yield a straight line.6.3 Determine two values which characterize this linetheuniformity constant and the characteristic particle size.Theuniformity constant,n,is defined as the slope of the line.Thecharacteristic particle size,x0,is defined as the size at which63.2%of the particles(by weight)are smaller.The character-istic particle size is the size corresponding to ln1/(1 y)=1.0.Fig.2 is an example of this plot.7.Report7.1 Report the uniformity constant,n(a dimensionless