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.

Characteristics of oxygen consumption of coal at programmed temperatures

Oxygen consumption is an important index of coal oxidation.In order to explore the coal-oxygen reaction,we developed an experimental system of coal spontaneous combustion and tested oxygen consumption of differently ranked coals at programmed temperatures.The size of coal samples ranged from 0.18~0.42 mm and the system heat-rate was 0.8℃/min.The results show that, for high ranked coals,oxygen consumption rises with coal temperature as a piecewise non-linear process.The critical coal temperature is about 50℃.Below this temperature,oxygen consumption decreases with rising coal temperatures and reached a minimum at 50℃,approximately.Subsequently,it begins to increase and the rate of growth clearly increased with temperature.For low ranked coals,this characteristic is inconspicuous or even non-existent.The difference in oxygen consumption at the same temperatures varies for differently ranked coals.The results show the difference in oxygen consumption of the coals tested in our study reached 78.6%at 100℃.Based on the theory of coal-oxygen reaction,these phenomena were analyzed from the point of view of physical and chemical characteristics,as well as the appearance of the coal-oxygen complex.From theoretical analyses and our experiments,we conclude that the oxygen consumption at programmed temperatures reflects the oxidation ability of coals perfectly.