GURU GHASIDAS VISHWAVIDYALA
KONI, BILASPUR, C.G.-495009
INTERNSHIP REPORT
DEPARTMENT OF PURE AND APPLIED PHYSICS
NAME OF THE INSTITUTE – CIMFR(CSIR) BILASPUR, C.G. -495001
TOPIC OF INTERNSHIP – TESTING OF COAL SAMPLE AND MACHINES USED FOR TESTING OF COAL SAMPLES
DURATION – 9TH JUNE 2025 TO 27TH JUNE 2025
SUBMITTED BY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
PRAVEEN SINGH BAIS DR. S.P. SINGH
(SCIENTIST INCHARGE & CHIEF SCIENTIST , CIMFR)
TESTING OF COAL SAMPLES AND MACHINES
USE FOR TESTING OF COAL SAMPLES
ABOUT CSIR(CIMFR)
CSIR- Central institute of mining and fuel research (CSIR-CIMFR) situated in
Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, india. It is a constituent laboratory of council of
scientific and industrial research, an autonomous government body. The
main purpose of CIMFR-Bilaspur is to give the report of the lab-testing of
coal samples provided by mining companies or any private companies to
that institute, so that the institute take decisions that the mining in this area
is beneficial or not.
For testing of coal samples generally use generally use two machines for different parameters
Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) Bomb calorimetric
(measures change in mass of sample with temperature ) (measures heat of combustion)
THERMOGRAVEMETRIC ANALYZER
❑ THEORY
Thermogravimetric analysis or thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA)
is a method of thermal analysis in which the mass of a sample is
measured over time as the temperature changes. This
measurement provides informational about physical phenomena,
such as phase transitions, absorption, adsorption and desorption;
as well as chemical phenomena including chemisorption, thermal
decomposition, and solid gas reactions(e.g. oxidation and reduction).
❑ WORKING
1. Sample placement : A tiny amount of material is placed in a small crucial or pan
made up of platinum or ceramic.
2. Microbalance : The pan is suspended from a highly sensitive microbalance that precisely
tracks its weight.
3. Furnace & Temperature Control : The balance is inside a furnace with a
programmed controller that precisely increase temperature(or holds it constant)
at a controlled rate (e.g. 10°C/min).
4. Controlled Atmosphere : A gas (like nitrogen for inert or air for oxidative) flows
over the sample, preventing unwanted reactions or promoting specific ones, and
the gas can be during the experiment.
5. Data Collection : As the sample heats, any loss(water, decomposition gases) or
gain (oxidation) in mass is continuously recorded the balance.
6. THERMOGRAM GENERATION : A computer plots this data as weight (or % weight)
on the y-axis versus temperature (or time) on the x-axis, creating the TGA curve.
❑ KEY APPLICATION IN PHYSICS
(i) Material characterization : TGA is used to determine the
composition of material by analyzing their decomposition
profiles. For example, it can identify the different
components of a composite material based on their distinct
thermal decomposition temperature.
(ii) Phase transitions : TGA can detect phase transitions,
such as melting or sublimation, by observing weight
changes associated with these events as the temperature
is varied.
(iii) Nanomaterial characterization : Nanomaterial research,
TGA determines the organic coating efficiency on
nanoparticles, identifies impurities (such as residual metal
catalysts in carbon nanotubes), and assesses thermal behavior.
(iv) Lifetime prediction : Data from short-duration, high-temperature TGA experiments can be used to predict the long-
term operational lifespan of materials, especially polymers, at lower, use-relevant temperatures.
❑ TGA (THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYSER)- LIMITATIONS
1. Measures only mass change
2. Atmosphere sensitive
3. Requires small sample size
4. Slow heating rates
5. No calorific value
BOMB CALORIMETER
❑ THEORY
Bomb calorimetry is a technique used to measures the heat of combustion of a sample. This technique involves
burning a sample in a high-pressure oxygen atmosphere, which releases heat that is absorbed by a surrounding water
bath. The change in temperature of the water is then used to calculate the heat of combustion of the sample.
❑ COMPONENTS OF BOMB CALORIMETER
• Steel bomb : A robust, sealed cylindrical vessel designed to withstand
internal combustion pressures of 25-30 atmospheres.
• Sample crucible : A small, non-reactive cup (often platinum or stainless
steel ) that holds the weighed fuel sample inside the bomb.
• Ignition system : Two electrodes connected to a fine fuse wire (iron or
nichrome) that ignites the sample via an external electric current.
• Calorimeter vessel : A copper or stainless steel bucket filled with a known
quantity of water that surrounds the bomb to absorb released heat.
• Stirring mechanism : A motorized paddle or impeller that ensures uniform water temperature
throughout the vessel.
• Insulating jacket : An outer double-walled air or water jacket (often a Dewar flask) that
prevents heat loss to the external environment.
• Temperature sensor : A high-precisions digital or Beckman thermometer used to monitor
minute temperature changes (accurate to 0.0001°C).
• Oxygen inlet & valve : A set of valves at the top of bomb for filling it with pure oxygen and
releasing residual gases after combustion.
WORKING PRINCIPLE : A bomb calorimeter measures heat of combustion by burning a sample in a sealed, oxygen-filled
"bomb" and measuring the temperature rise of surrounding water, applying the principle of conservation of energy; the heat
released by the exothermic combustion is absorbed by the water, and this temperature change (ΔT) is used with the mass of
water and its specific heat capacity to calculate the fuel's energy content.
1. Sample Preparation: A small, precisely weighed sample is placed in a crucible inside the bomb.
2. Oxygen filling: The bomb, a strong metal container, is sealed and filled with pure oxygen at high pressure to ensure
complete combustion.
3. Ignition: An electrical current heats a fuse wire, igniting the fuel sample.
4. Heat Absorption: The heat from the combustion is released into the surrounding water jacket, which contains a
known mass of water.
5. Temperature Measurement: A thermometer measures the increase in the water's temperature (ΔT).
6. Calculation: Using the formula (Q = MCΔT) the heat energy (Q) released is calculated, where (M) is the water mass,
(C) is the specific heat of water, and (ΔT) is the temperature change.
❑APPLICATION OF BOMB CALORIMETER IN PHYSICS
1. Measuring heat of combustion : The primary application of a bomb calorimeter is to determine the heat of
combustion of fuels and other substances.
2. Analyzing fuel efficiency : Bomb calorimeter are used to assess the calorific value of various fuels, including coal,
natural gas, and gasoline.
3. Safety testing : By measuring the heat released during combustion, scientists can evaluate the explosive force of a
material and determine its potential for detonation under different conditions.
4. Studying thermodynamical processes : Bomb calorimeter are essential tools in the study of thermodynamics,
particularly in understanding the relationship between heat, work, and energy changes in chemical reactions.