Multi-scale pore fractal characteristics of differently ranked coal and its impact on gas adsorption

Well-developed pores and cracks in coal reservoirs are the main venues for gas storage and migration.To investigate the multi-scale pore fractal characteristics,six coal samples of different rankings were studied using high-pressure mercury injection(HPMI),low-pressure nitrogen adsorption(LPGA-N2),and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)test methods.Based on the Frankel,Halsey and Hill(FHH)fractal theory,the Menger sponge model,Pores and Cracks Analysis System(PCAS),pore volume complexity(D_(v)),coal surface irregularity(Ds)and pore distribution heterogeneity(D_(p))were studied and evaluated,respectively.The effect of three fractal dimensions on the gas adsorption ability was also analyzed with high-pressure isothermal gas adsorption experiments.Results show that pore structures within these coal samples have obvious fractal characteristics.A noticeable segmentation effect appears in the Dv1and Dv2fitting process,with the boundary size ranging from 36.00 to 182.95 nm,which helps differentiate diffusion pores and seepage fractures.The D values show an asymmetric U-shaped trend as the coal metamorphism increases,demonstrating that coalification greatly affects the pore fractal dimensions.The three fractal dimensions can characterize the difference in coal microstructure and reflect their influence on gas adsorption ability.Langmuir volume(V_(L))has an evident and positive correlation with Dsvalues,whereas Langmuir pressure(P_(L))is mainly affected by the combined action of Dvand Dp.This study will provide valuable knowledge for the appraisal of coal seam gas reservoirs of differently ranked coals.

Effect of different concentrations of surfactant on the wettability of coal by molecular dynamics simulation

Anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate(SDBS)at varying concentrations was selected to investigate the influence on the wettability of Zhaozhuang Coal by molecular dynamics simulation.Six groups of water/surfactant/coal systems with different concentrations were constructed.The influence of surfactant with different concentrations on the wettability of coal was concluded by analyzing various properties from the energetic behaviors to the dynamic characteristics.The results show that the interfacial tension decreases sharply and then rises slowly with the increase of SDBS surfactant concentration,obtaining that surfactants can obviously reduce the interfacial tension.The surfactant molecules could be detected at the water/coal interface through analyzing the system’s relative concentration distribution.In addition,the difference in the wettability of surfactants on coal surfaces is caused by the spatial distribution differences of alkyl chains and the benzene ring of the surfactant molecules.And the negative interaction energy between SDBS and the coal surface indicates that adsorption process is spontaneous.Furthermore,it is of great practical significance for improving the dust reduction effect and reducing the disaster of coal dust by exploring the effects of surfactant molecules on the wettability of coal.

Application of low-cost particulate matter sensors for air quality monitoring and exposure assessment in underground mines:A review

Exposure to mining-induced particulate matter(PM)including coal dust and diesel particulate matter(DPM)causes severe respirat-ory diseases such as coal workers’pneumoconiosis(CWP)and lung cancer.Limited spatiotemporal resolution of current PM monitors causes miners to be exposed to unknown PM concentrations,with increased overexposure risk.Low-cost PM sensors offer a potential solution to this challenge with their capability in characterizing PM concentrations with high spatiotemporal resolution.However,their application in underground mines has not been explored.With the aim of examining the potential application of low-cost sensors in underground mines,a critical review of the present status of PM sensor research is conducted.The working principles of present PM monitors and low-cost sensors are com-pared.Sensor error sources are identified,and comprehensive calibration processes are presented to correct them.Evaluation protocols are pro-posed to evaluate sensor performance prior to deployment,and the potential application of low-cost sensors is discussed.