What is it about?
The Volatile Matter values are used to estimated the burning rates of various coals. All volatile matter tests are empirical and require strict adherence to specified conditions to yield acceptable results. This paper illustrates the effect the moisture contents in coals have on measured volatile matter values. Alternate methods for determining volatile matter resort to rapid drying at high temperatures of coals before the tests are conducted. This paper shows these alternate procedure often contribute more variability to the volatile matter results. The most consistent volatile matter results are obtained when the coal samples are dried at the normal drying temperature of 107 degrees Centigrade.
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Why is it important?
For decades it has been known that the current ASTM Standard Test Methods for the determination of volatile matter in coals yield inconsistent results. In order to obtain consistent volatile matter results a lot of laboratories have adopted procedures that are different than those specified by the ASTM Standard Test Method. This paper provides data that support these variations. ASTM Committee D05 On Coal and Coke has recently revised the Standard Test Method for Volatile Matter to allow the drying of coal at the normal drying temperature of 107 degrees Centigrade. The data in this publication played a large role in getting this revision accepted.
Perspectives
The current ASTM Standard Test Method for volatile matter in coals was first approved over 100 years ago. The alternate method for the rapid drying of coals at high temperatures was added decades ago. There have been several revisions to the test methods over the years. Over the last 40 years there have been several studies trying to improve on the alternate procedure using the rapid drying method, but no changes have been made until now. ASTM Committee D05 On Coal and Coke has recently revised the Standard Test Method for Volatile Matter to allow the drying of coal at the normal drying temperature of 107 degrees Centigrade. This should solve many of the problems in the volatile matter determination of coals.
Dr. John T Riley
Western Kentucky University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Moisture and Heating Rate Effects on Volatile Matter Yields for Coals, Journal of Testing and Evaluation, June 2018, ASTM International,
DOI: 10.1520/jte20170407.
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