Brookfield PFT Powder Flow Tester - Appendix B: BCR-Limestone Test Procedure For Calibration Check On Brookfield Powder Flow Tester

AMETEK Brookeld Page 61 Manual No. M09-1200-F1016
Appendix B: BCR Limestone Test Procedure for Calibration Check on
Brookeld Powder Flow Tester
Background Information
BCR-116LimestonePowder(2500cc,3.2kgperjar)isthereferencematerialusedtoperforma
calibrationcheck.ItiscertiedbytheEuropeanCommission,JointResearchCentre,locatedin
Belgium.ThepowderisavailableforpurchasefromBrookeld.9testscanbeperformedper
jarwiththeStandardVolumeShearCell(263ccpertest),55testswiththeSmallVolumeShear
Cell(43ccpertest).Althoughbestpracticeistouseafreshsampleforeachtest,degradation
ofthelimestoneduringthetestisnotsignicant.Thereforethelimestonepowdercantherefore
bereusedforadditionalcalibrationchecks.TheCerticateofAnalysiswhichcomeswiththe
BCR-116 Limestone states that the material is valid for 5 years after purchase.
Sample Preparation
Condition the limestone for 24 hours by spreading the powder out on the pan so in a thin layer no
more than a centimeter deep. Use a metal scoop to break up any agglomerates. Maintain relative
humidity between 40% and 60%RH, temperature between 22 and 28ºC. If it is not possible to
achieve these test conditions, record the temperature and relative humidity for 8 hours prior to
the test and report these values.
Test Procedure
Fill the trough with powder using the metal scoop. Gently load the powder by allowing it to fall
off the scoop into the annular ring. Rotate the scraping tool in a clockwise direction until the
excess powder is removed. Reversing the direction of the scraping tool is acceptable to remove
the excess powder. Make sure that the mound of powder in the annular ring is reasonably uniform
all the way around. Fill the same way each time.
UsethesamelabtechniciantoruneachFlowFunctiontestonaspecicinstrument.Run3
Flow Function tests at a minimum. Best practice is to run 7 Flow Function tests. Use the Vane
Lid.Selectthe Custom Flow FunctionTest.Test method requires 5consolidationstresses
using geometric spacing, 3 over consolidation stresses. Do not use a separate sample for each
consolidation, do not repeat each measurement, and do not test at the point of tangency.
Record the temperature and the relative humidity for each test.
Data File Management
Thelenameconventionillustratedbelowisrecommended.Identifythetestmaterialandsize
of shear cell under Product. Identify location of test, date of test, serial number of instrument,
and initials of person doing the test under Batch:
Product:BCRLimestoneStandardVolumeShearCell Note:lelength<30characters
Batch:Brookeld9Jan2013SN789217RGM  Note:lelength<30characters
Saveboththerawdataleandthestressdataleaftereachtest.UndertheAnalysisTabinthe
PowderFlowProsoftware,therawdataleissavedwiththecheckboxnexttothediscicon