ASTM_D_388_-_15.pdf

Designation:D38815Standard Classification ofCoals by Rank1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D388;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 standard covers the classification of coals by rank,that is,according to their degree of metamorphism,or progres-sive alteration,in the natural series from lignite to anthracite.1.2 This classification is applicable to coals that are com-posed mainly of vitrinite.NOTE1Coals rich in inertinite or liptinite(exinite),or both,cannot beproperly classified because,in those macerals,the properties that deter-mine rank(calorific value,volatile matter,and agglomerating character)differ greatly from those of vitrinite in the same coal.Often such coals canbe recognized by megascopic examination.In North America,these coalsare mostly nonbanded varieties that contain only a small proportion ofvitrain and consist mainly of attrital materials.The degree of metamor-phism of nonbanded and other vitrinite-poor coals can be estimated bydetermining the classification properties of isolated or concentratedvitrinite fractions,or by determining the reflectance of the vitrinite(seeTest Method D2798 and Appendix X1 of this classification).However,inthe use of these vitrinite-poor coals,some properties normally associatedwith rank,such as rheology,combustibility,hardness,and grindability(aswell as the rank determining properties)may differ substantially fromthose of vitrinite-rich coals of the same degree of metamorphism.The precision of the classification of impure coal may beimpaired by the effect of large amounts of mineral matter onthe determination of volatile matter and calorific value,and ontheir calculation to the mineral-matter-free basis.1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.3.1 ExceptionThe values stated in British thermal unitsper pound are to be regarded as the standard.The SI equiva-lents of British thermal units per pound are approximate.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D121 Terminology of Coal and CokeD720 Test Method for Free-Swelling Index of CoalD1412 Test Method for Equilibrium Moisture of Coal at 96to 97 Percent Relative Humidity and 30CD2013 Practice for Preparing Coal Samples for AnalysisD2234/D2234M Practice for Collection of a Gross Sampleof CoalD2798 Test Method for Microscopical Determination of theVitrinite Reflectance of CoalD3172 Practice for Proximate Analysis of Coal and CokeD3173 Test Method for Moisture in the Analysis Sample ofCoal and CokeD3174 Test Method for Ash in the Analysis Sample of Coaland Coke from CoalD3175 Test Method for Volatile Matter in the AnalysisSample of Coal and CokeD3302 Test Method for Total Moisture in CoalD4239 Test Method for Sulfur in the Analysis Sample ofCoal and Coke Using High-Temperature Tube FurnaceCombustionD4596 Practice for Collection of Channel Samples of Coalin a MineD5016 Test Method for Total Sulfur in Coal and CokeCombustion Residues Using a High-Temperature TubeFurnace Combustion Method with Infrared AbsorptionD5192 Practice for Collection of Coal Samples from CoreD5865 Test Method for Gross Calorific Value of Coal andCoke3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 For additional definitions of terms used in thisclassification,refer to Terminology D121.3.1.2 agglomerating,adjas applied to coal,the propertyof softening when it is heated to above about 400C in anonoxidizing atmosphere,and then appearing as a coherentmass after cooling to room temperature.3.1.3 apparent rank,nof coal,the rank designation ob-tained on samples other than channel samples or core sampleswith 100%recovery,but otherwise conforming to proceduresof Classification D388.3.1.4 coal seam,nthe stratum,layer,or bed of coal thatlies between two other rock layers whose compositions differsignificantly from that of coal.1This classification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D05 on Coaland Coke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.18 on Classificationof Coals.Current edition approved May 15,2015.Published June 2015.Originallyapproved in 1934.Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D388 12.DOI:10.1520/D0388-15.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 3.2 Abbreviations:3.2.1 Where it is desired to abbreviate the designation of theranks of coal,the following abbreviations shall be usedmameta-anthraciteananthracitesasemianthracitelvblow volatile bituminousmvbmedium volatil