[Stoves] Calc. void space and pellet particle density

[Ronal W. Larson]

Frank:  (and anyone on list)

  1.  Would you be good enough to add a few more tests:

	a.  Measure (ml or gm) the amount of water (and/or acetone) you can add to the container full of sand.  (I see relative density of .785 for acetone)

        b.  Same for sand replaced by pellets, even if the pellets are ruined  (but try to make the weight gain measurement as fast as possible (see how much you can both add and drain).  But perhaps they can be waterproofed with only a gram or two of waxy material.
	
	c.  Same when you mix sand and pellets  (my preference is to start with a liter of only pellets, then first see how much sand you can get in [by shaking], weigh and then see how much water (and or acetone) can be added).

  2.  I agree with Andrew Heggie that a void space of 52% sounds high.  Can you specify the diameter of the pellets and an average pellet length.  Manufacturer?  Any spec on source material?

  3.  If you have to start over, let’s use a volume of “exactly” 1 liter (water weight = 1 kg), for all cases (to simplify the computations).

  4.  We should be able to get the same answer for pellet density regardless of how hard we try to increase the bulk densities (Alex’ point).  

Thanks in advance.


Ron

On Mar 8, 2014, at 3:53 PM, Frank Shields <frank at compostlab.com> wrote:

> 
> 1555.68
> sand
> 1053.17
> water (vol)
> 671.78
> pellets
> 152.47
> pellets used
> 1539.82
> Pellets + Sand
> 0.637865
> Bulk density Pellet
> 671.78/1053.17
> 1.47714
> Sand bulk density
> 1555.68/1053.17
> 1387.35
> Sand used when mixed with pellets
> 1539.8-152.47
> 168.33
> Sand not used
> 1555.68-1387.35
> 113.9567
> Vol sand not used
> 168.33/1.477
> 1.337965
> pellet density
> 152.47/113.95
> 502.091
> pellet vol in bottle
> 671.78/1.337965
> 551.079
> void space
> 1053.17-502.091
> 52.32574
> % voids
> 551.079/1053.17*100
> Tare a glass narrow neck bottle
> Fill with sand –weigh
> Fill with pellets weigh
> Fill with water – weigh (vol of glass jar)
> Calc bulk density of sand and pellets
>  
> Weigh a handful of pellets
> Add sand > sprinkle in pellets > add sand > sprinkle in pellets until all pellets are in bottle and topped off with sand
> Weigh sand + pellets mix
> Calc sand in mix
> Calc sand NOT in mix
> Calc volume of sand NOT in mix using sand bulk density
> Calc. particle density of pellets from wt hand full of pellets / volume of sand not in mix.
> Calc pellet volume in liter bottle when filled with pellets
> Calc. void space in bottle left
> Calc percent voids from void / total vol of liter bottle X 100
>  
> I fill with sand then tap twice on the counter then top off with sand.
>  
> This is a sample from a local US pellet source. The bulk density is 0.638 g/cc and the particle density of the pellets is 1.338 g/cc
> Void space for air movement in a TLUD filled with these pellets is 52.3%
>  
> Instead of sand one can use water or acetone for other materials. The particle density of sand (or like) I find best done using acetone.  
>  
>  
> Hope the calcs are correct. : )
>  
> Regards
>  
> Frank
>  
>  
> Frank Shields
> Control Laboratories; Inc.
> 42 Hangar Way
> Watsonville, CA  95076
> (831) 724-5422 tel
> (831) 724-3188 fax
> frank at biocharlab.com
> www.controllabs.com
>  
>  
>  
>  
> From: Stoves [mailto:stoves-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Dean Still
> Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2014 11:21 AM
> To: Discussion of biomass cooking stoves
> Subject: Re: [Stoves] Cuber and size of densifying machines. (no longer Re: The wood and char and fuel "debate" )
>  
> Hi Tom,
>  
> In Uganda the pellets were too dense and were hard to light. Do you know the density of USA heating stove pellets?
>  
> Best,
>  
> Dean
>  
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