SCAN-CM 46:92

Accepted 1992

.N PU1 9 PAPER AND BOARD

TESTlNG COMMITTEE

Wood Chipsf o r Pulp production

Bulk density

1 Scope and field of application 3 Definitions

This SCAN-test Standard describes the procedure for 3.1 Bulk volume - The volume of a s'mple of
determining the bulk density ofwoodChips, intended loosely packed Chips.
for the production of chemical or mech'anical pulps.
The Standard also describes the apparatus used for 3.2 Bulk density - The oven-dry mass of a sample of
determining the bulk volume of the Chip sample, i. e. wood Chips divided by the bulk volume of the s'mple,
the volume of loosely packed Chips. when the Chips are packed without compression as
The bulk density is important in the Wadeof wood described in this Standard.
Chips on a volume basis, as well as in Pulp production
where it influences the inflow of wood to a digester or 3.3 Basicdensity - The oven-dry mass of a wood
to a refiner. s,mple divided by its green volume, i.e. the volume of
a wood sample when in equilibrium with surrounding
Note - The bulk density is affected by many water (See SCAN-CM 43).
factors, such as the Chip dimensions (lO), the Chip
moisture content, the size of the s'mple and the 3.4 Solidvolumecontent - The ratio of thebulk
procedure used to determine the height of the Chip density of the woodChips to the basic density of the
column in the tube. wood itself.

2 References 4 Principle
SCAN-CM 39 Wood Chips for Pulp production - Dry The bulk density is calculated onthe basis of the
matter content measured weight 'md the bulk volume.
SCAN-CM 41 Wood Chips for Pulp production - The bulk volume is determined by me,ms of a tube
S'ampling where as,ample
Chip is allowed tobottom
fall
the to of
SCAN-CM 43 Wood Chips for Pulp production - Basic the tube under the influence of the gravity. The height
density of the Chip column thus formed is multiplied by the
inner Cross-section area of the tube. Whenthe Chip
s'ample is weighed 'md the dry matter content is
determined, the bulk density is cdculated.
SCAN-CM 4 6 ~ 9 2
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5 Apparatus The upper part of the tube (5.1.1) is to be filled with

chips, which means that the test Portion for each
5.1 Equipment givingthe volume of loosely packed
determination is about 35 litres. If the sample needs to
chips. The equipment consists of the following
be subdivided to obhin test portions of that size, take
components, Figure 1. precautions to avoid any fractionation of the material.
5.1.1 A cylindrical ruhe oftr'msparent acrylic plastic Note - The chips must not be compressed into the
(Plexiglass), open at both ends and standing on one end tube when this is being filled.
in a collecting tray. The internal diameter of the tube is
290 mm, the wall thickness is about 5 mm and the
length is 1500 mm. At a dist'mce of 1000 mm from the
bottom of the tube, the tube is sawn through to half of
its circumference, making a slot. The tube is equipped
with two measuring devices placed On opposite sides of
the tube to enable measurements to be made from the 5.7.2
bottom to the slot.

Note 1 - If a tube with 'aninternal diameter of

290 mm is not available, a tube with a larger
diameter maybe used. In such a Situation,the
5.1.2
dimensions of the remaining equipment must be
adjusted accordingly. The length of the tube and 5.1.3
the distmce between the bottom and the slot must
not be changed.

5.1.2 A pull-out slide made of suitable material (such 5.7.4

as aluminium). The slide shall be such tL?t it can be
inserted into the slot in such a way that the whole tube
is closed. The slide can quickly be removed allowing
the chips to fall.
*t
Figure 1. Equipmentfor determination ofthebulk
5.1.3 A wooden lid with a di'meter of285 mm, a volume of a chip sample:
thickness of about 90 mm ‘arid a weight of 4,O f 0,l kg, 5.1.I cylindrical, transparent tube;
Figure 2. The lid is perforated with eight holes, with a 5.1.2pull-outslide;
di'meter of 25 mm, to allow air to pass. The holes are 5.1.3 wooden lid, see also Figure 2;
uniformly disuibuted with their centres 50 mm from the 5.1.4 collecting tray.
circumference.

Note 2 - The weight of the wooden lid may be

adjusted by a small lead weight placed in the
centre on the top of the lid.

5.1.4 A collectingtray large enough to hold a test

volume of about 30 litres.

5.2 Balance, capacity about 20 kg, accurate and

readable to 1 g.
285

6 Sampling and preparation of sample

The srunpling procedure is not covered by this
Standard. Ensure that s'mpling has been c'mied out in
a manner that ensures representative samples. A
suitrtble s'mpling procedure is described inSCAN- Figure 2. Wooden lid (5.1.31, perforated with eight
CM 41. holes, dimensions in millimetres.
 SCAN-CM 46~92
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7 Procedure 8.2 Solid volume content

7.1 Weigh the collecting tray. If the basic density of the wood sample is known (see
SCAN-CM 43)
the solid volume content can be
7.2 Close the upper section of the tube (51.1) by calculated from the ratio of the bulkdensity to the basic
inserting the pull-out slide (5.1.2) into the slot in the density:
tube. Scoop the Chip sample into the top section of the
tube, until it is filled with Chips. Any Chip surplus must Y = - 100 X
be removed without applying pressure to flatten the Z
Chip column. where

Y is the solid volume content, as a percentage;

Note - A suitdde scoop has a volume of 2 litres.
X is the bulk density, in kilograms oven-dry wood
The use of a bucket is not recommended since an
per cubic metre;
uneven distribution of the Chips in the tube c'm be
e obtained.
Z is the basic density, in kilogr'ms per cubic metre.

Report the solid volume content tothe nearest whole

Withdraw the slide quickly to allow the Chipsto fall.
T'ake the wooden lid (5.1.3), hold it level with the top number.
of the tube, and let it fall down inside the tube. Measure
the height of the Chip column formed, from the bottom
The test report shall include reference tothisSCAN-
of the tube to the lower edge of the lid, in two Positions
opposite to each other. Remove the tube and weigh the test Standard and the following particulars:
Chips in the pre-weighed collecting tray (5.1.4).
(a) date Md place of testing;
(b) identification mark of the s'ample tested;
7.3 From the collecting tray, take a Chip srunplefor
the determination of dry matter content as rapidly as (C) the results;
(d) the coefficient of Variation;
possible after the weighing. Detennine thedry matter
content as described in SCAN-CM 39. (e) any departure from the Standard procedure and
any other circumstances that may have affected
7.4 Repeat the procedure according to items the test results.
7.1 - 7.3 with Chips from the Sameoriginal test Portion.
To replace those Chips removed for determination of
the dry matter content, add more Chips fromthe 9 Precision
original sample. Three wood Chip samples were tested 10 times in two
laboratories. The repeatability ,md the reproducibility,
measured as the coefficients ofVariationwithinand
8 Calculation and report between laboratories, are given in the Tuble.
0 8.1 Bulk density
Calculate thebulk density for the two determinations Chip Lab Number
Bulk CV* CV*
separately from the expression: s'mple of densitybetween
within
observa- lab labs
X=-10 w y kg/m3
tions 96 ?T,
hA
Softwood 1153 10 1,l 1,8
where 10 2 157 1,3
Hardwood
1 10 1,6 202 2,8
X is the bulk density, in kilograms oven-dry wood 210
10 2 1,3
per cubic metre;
Sawmill
10 1 154
2,7 1,7
W is the mass of the s'mple, in gr'ams;
10 2 160 2,0
y is the dry matter content, as a percentage;
* CV is the coefficient of Variation
h is the mean height of the chips in the tube, in
centimetres;
A is the Cross section area of the tube, in Square 10 Literature
centimetres.
Edberg U., Engström L . , Hurtler N.: The influence of
Calculate and report the mean bulkdensity to the Chip dimensions on Chip bulk density,
nearest whole number. Svensk Papperstidning 76 (1973)14: 529-533.
SCAN-CM 46:92
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SCAN-test Standards are issued and recommended

by the central laboratories of the pulp, paper and
board industries in Denmark, Finland, Norway and
Sweden.
Distribution: Secretariat, Scandinavian Pulp, Paper
and Board Testing Committee,
Box 5604, S-114 86 Stockholm, Sweden.