Numerical Simulation of a Two-Phase Flow with Low Permeability anda Start-Up Pressure Gradient

A new numerical model for low-permeability reservoirs is developed.The model incorporates the nonlinear characteristics of oil-water two-phase flows while taking into account the initiation pressure gradient.Related numerical solutions are obtained using a finite difference method.The correctness of the method is demonstrated using a two-dimensional inhomogeneous low permeability example.Then,the differences in the cumulative oil and water production are investigated for different starting water saturations.It is shown that when the initial water saturation grows,the water content of the block continues to rise and the cumulative oil production gradually decreases.

Dynamic behavior of outburst two-phase flow in a coal mine T-shaped roadway:The formation of impact airflow and its disaster-causing effect

The study of the dynamic disaster mechanism of coal and gas outburst two-phase flow is crucial for improving disaster reduction and rescue ability of coal mine outburst accidents.An outburst test in a T-shaped roadway was conducted using a self-developed large-scale outburst dynamic disaster test system.We investigated the release characteristics of main energy sources in coal seam,and obtained the dynamic characteristics of outburst two-phase flow in a roadway.Additionally,we established a formation model for outburst impact flow and a model for its flow in a bifurcated structure.The results indicate that the outburst process exhibits pulse characteristics,and the rapid destruction process of coal seam and the blocking state of gas flow are the main causes of the pulse phenomenon.The outburst energy is released in stages,and the elastic potential energy is released in the vertical direction before the horizontal direction.In a straight roadway,the impact force oscillates along the roadway.With an increase in the solid–gas ratio,the two-phase flow impact force gradually increases,and the disaster range extends from the middle of the roadway to the coal seam.In the area near the coal seam,the disaster caused by the two-phase flow impact is characterized by intermittent recovery.In a bifurcated roadway,the effect of impact airflow on impact dynamic disaster is much higher than that of two-phase flow,and the impact force tends to weaken with increasing solid-gas ratio.The impact force is asymmetrically distributed;it is higher on the left of the bifurcated roadway.With an increase in the solid-gas ratio,the static pressure rapidly decreases,and the bifurcated structure accelerates the attenuation of static pressure.Moreover,secondary acceleration is observed when the shock wave moves along the T-shaped roadway,indicating that the bifurcated structure increases the shock wave velocity.

A mathematical model of gas flow during coal outburst initiation

A proposed concept of outburst initiation examines the release of a large amount of gas from coal seams resulted from disintegrating thermodynamically unstable coal organic matter(COM).A coal microstructure is assumed to getting unstable due to shear component appearance triggered by mining operations and tectonic activities considered as the primary factor while COM disintegration under the impact of weak electric fields can be defined as a secondary one.The energy of elastic deformations stored in the coal microstructure activates chemical reactions to tilt the energy balance in a“coal–gas”system.Based on this concept a mathematical model of a gas flow in the coal where porosity and permeability are changed due to chemical reactions has been developed.Using this model we calculated gas pressure changes in the pores initiated by gas release near the working face till satisfying force and energy criteria of outburst.The simulation results demonstrated forming overpressure zone in the area of intensive gas release with enhanced porosity and permeability.The calculated outburst parameters are well combined with those evaluated by field measurements.

Gasification kinetic modelling of Victorian brown coal chars and validity for entrained flow gasification in CO_(2)

The gasification kinetic modelling of two Victorian brown coal(Yallourn and Maddingley)chars and the validity for entrained flow gasification were investigated in this study.The study was conducted in a thermogravimetric analyzer(TGA)at 750–1100℃,30%–90%CO_(2)concentration using different char particle sizes within 20–106 mm.It was found that random pore model and modified volumetric model are applicable for TGA results,but volumetric model and grain model are not.The effect of particle size under106 mm on gasification rate is very limited.Activation energies of Maddingley char and Yallourn char in CO_(2)gasification are 219–220 and 197–208 k J/mol,respectively.The pre-exponential factors are in the same order of magnitude,and they increased as particle size decreased.A mathematical model was developed to predict carbon conversion over time for entrained flow gasification of Victorian brown coal chars at 1000–1400℃.

Structure and production fluid flow pattern of post-fracturing high-rank coal reservoir in Southern Qinshui Basin

Field geological work, field engineering monitoring, laboratory experiments and numerical simulation were used to study the development characteristics of pore-fracture system and hydraulic fracture of No.3 coal reservoir in Southern Qinshui Basin. Flow patterns of methane and water in pore-fracture system and hydraulic fracture were discussed by using limit method and average method. Based on the structure model and flow pattern of post-fracturing high-rank coal reservoir, flow patterns of methane and water were established. Results show that seepage pattern of methane in pore-fracture system is linked with pore diameter, fracture width, coal bed pressure and flow velocity. While in hydraulic fracture, it is controlled by fracture height, pressure and flow velocity. Seepage pattern of water in pore-fracture system is linked with pore diameter, fracture width and flow velocity. While in hydraulic fracture, it is controlled by fracture height and flow velocity. Pores and fractures in different sizes are linked up by ultramicroscopic fissures, micro-fissures and hydraulic fracture. In post-fracturing high-rank coal reservoir, methane has level-three flow and gets through triple medium to the wellbore; and water passes mainly through double medium to the wellbore which is level-two flow.

Experimental Study of Seepage Properties of Non-Darcy Flow in Granular Coal Gangues

By using the steady-state seepage method, a patent seepage device together with the MTS815.02 Rock Mechanics Test System is used to test the seepage properties of non-Darcy flow in a granular gangue with five different grain sizes during the compaction. The experimental results show that the seepage properties are not only related to the stress or displacement level, but also to the grain size, the pore structure of the granular gangue, and the current porosity The permeability and the non-Darcy flow coefficient can be fitted respectively by the cubic polynomials and the power functions of the porosity, Formally, the flow in granular gangue satisfies the Forchheimer＇s binomial flow, but under the great axial and confining pressure and owing to the grain＇s crushing, the flow in granular gangues is different from that in rock-fills which are naturallv oiled un. As a result, the non-Darer flow coefficient may be negative.

Experimental study on the type change of liquid flow in broken coal samples

A test system of the permeability of broken coal samples mainly consists of a CMT5305 electronic universal test machine, crushed rock compaction containing cylinder and a self-designed seepage circuit, which is composed of a gear pump, a reversing valve, a relief valve and other components. By using the steady penetration method, the permeability and non-Darcy flow β factor of broken coal samples under five different porosity levels were measured, the grain diameters of the coal samples were selected as 2.5-5 mm, 5-10 mm, 10-15 mm, 15-20 mm, 20-25 mm and 2.5-25 ram, respectively. After measuring the permeability under each porosity, the overfall pressure of the relief valve continuously increased until the coal sample was broken down. In this way, the flow type of liquid inside the broken coal samples changed from seepage to pipe flow. The correlation between breakdown pressure gradient （BPG） and porosity was analyzed, and the BPG was compared with the pressure gradient when seepage instability occurred. The results show that, ①the non-Darcy flow β factor was negative before broken coal samples with six kinds of diameters were broken down; ②the BPG of coal samples with a grain size of 2.5-25 mm was lower than that of the others; ③ the BPG of coal samples with a single diameter under the same porosity increased as the grain size increased; ④ the BPG could be fitted by an exponential function with porosity, and the exponent decreased as the grain size increased for coal samples with a single diameter; ⑤ the BPG was slightly less than the seepage instability pressure gradient. The change in liquid flow type from seepage to pipe flow could be regarded as the performance of the seepage instability.

Experimental research on characteristic of start-up pressure wave propagation in gelled crude oil by large-scale flow loop

In order to research start-up pressure wave propagation mechanism and determine pressure wave speed in gelled crude oil pipelines accurately,experiment of Large-scale flow loop was carried out.In the experiment,start-up pressure wave speeds under various operation conditions were measured,and effects of correlative factors on pressure wave were analyzed.The experimental and theoretical analysis shows that thermal shrinkage and structural properties of gelled crude oils are key factors influencing on start-up pressure wave propagation.The quantitative analysis for these effects can be done by using volume expansion coefficient and structural property parameter of gelled crude oil.A new calculation model of pressure wave speed was developed on the basis of Large-scale flow loop experiment and theoretical analysis.

Propagation law of shock waves and gas flow in cross roadway caused by coal and gas outburst

In order to study the propagation law of shock waves and gas flow during coal and gas outburst,we analyzed the formation process of outburst shock waves and gas flow and established the numerical simulation models of the roadways with 45°intersection and 135°intersection to simulate the propagation of outburst gas flow and the process of gas transport.Based on the analysis of the simulation results,we obtained the qualitative and quantitative conclusions on the characteristics and patterns of propagation and attenuation of outburst shock waves and gas flow.With the experimental models,we investigated the outburst shock waves and gas flow in the roadways with the similar structures to the simulated ones.According to the simulation results,when the angle between the driving roadway and the adjacent roadway increased,the sudden pressure variation range in adjacent roadway and the influencing scope of gas flow increased and the sudden pressure variation duration decreased.The intersection between the driving roadway and the adjacent roadway has no effect on airflow reversal induced by the shock waves and gas flow.

Analysis on the multi-phase flow characterization in cross-measure borehole during coal hydraulic slotting

Hydraulic slotting in a gas drainage borehole is an effective method of enhancing gas drainage perfor- mance. However, it frequently occurs that a large amount of slotting products （mainly the coal slurry and gas） intensely spurt out of the borehole during the slotting, which adversely affects the slotting efficiency. Despite extensive previous investigations on the mechanism and prevention-device design of the spurt during ordinary borehole drilling, a very few studies has focused on the spurt in the s Ottlng pro ] ＂ _ cess. The slotting spurt is mainly caused by two reasons： the coal and gas outburst in the borehole and the borehole deslagging blockage. This paper focuses on the second reason, and investigates the hydraulic deslagging flow patterns in the annular space between the drill pipe and borehole wall Results show that there are six deslagging flow patterns when the drill pipe is still： pure slurry flow, pure gas flow, bubble flow, intermittent flow, layering flow and annular flow. When the drill pipe rotates, each of those six flow patterns changes due to the Taylor vortex effect. Outcomes of this study could help to better understand the slotting-spurt mechanism and provide guidance on the anti-spurt strategies through eliminating the borehole deslagging blockage.

Arch structure effect of the coal gangue flow of the fully mechanized caving in special thick coal seam and its impact on the loss of top coal

Based on the characteristics of the top coal thickness of the fully mechanized caving in special thick coal seam,the long distance of coal gangue caving,as well as the different sizes of the coal gangue broken fragment dimension and spatial variation of drop flow,this paper uses laboratory dispersion simulation experiment and theoretical analysis to study the arch structure effect and its influence rule on the top coal loss in the process of coal gangue flow.Research shows that in the process of coal gangue flow,arch structure can be formed in three types:the lower arch structure,middle arch structure,and upper arch structure.Moreover,the arch structure has the characteristics of dynamic random arch,the formation probability of dynamic random arch with different layers is not the same,dynamic random arch caused the reduction of the top coal fluency;analyzing the dynamic random arch formation mechanism,influencing factors,and the conditions of instability;the formation probability of the lower arch structure is the highest,the whole coal arch and the coal gangue arch structure has the greatest impact on top coal loss.Therefore,to prevent or reduce the formation of lower whole coal arch structure,the lower coal gangue arch structure and the middle whole coal arch structure is the key to reduce the top coal loss.The research conclusion provides theoretical basis for the further improvement of the top coal recovery rate of the fully mechanized caving in extra thick coal seam.

Top coal flows in an excavation disturbed zone of high section top coal caving of an extremely steep and thick seam

Compared with gentle dip long-wall caving,the length of a working face in fully-mechanized top-coal caving for extremely steep and thick seams is short,while its horizontal section is high with increasing production.But the caving ratio is low,which might result in some disasters,such as roof falls,induced by local and large area collapse of the top coal in a working face and dangers induced by gas accumulation. After the development of cracks and weakening of the coal body,the tall,broken section of the top coal（a granular medium）of an extremely steep seam（over 60°）shows clear characteristics of nonlinear movement.We have thoroughly analyzed the geological environment and mining conditions of an excavation disturbed zone.Based on the results from a physical experiment of large-scale 3D modeling and coupling simulation of top coal-water-gas,we conclude that the weakened top coal can be regarded as a non-continuous medium.We used a particle flow code program to compare and analyze migration processes and the movements of a 30 m high section top coal over time before and after weakening of an extremely steep seam in the Weihuliang coal mine.The results of our simulation, experiment and monitoring show that pre-injection of water and pre-splitting blasting improve caving ability and symmetrical caving,relieve space for large area dynamic collapse of top coal,prolong migration time of noxious gases and release them from the mined out area and so achieve safety in mining.

Advances in LES of Two-phase Combustion(Ⅱ) LES of Complex Gas-Particle Flows and Coal Combustion

Large-eddy simulation(LES) is under its rapid development and is recognized as a possible second generation of CFD methods used in engineering.Large-eddy simulation of two-phase flows and combustion is particularly important for engineering applications.Some investigators,including the present authors,give their review on LES of spray combustion in gas-turbine combustors and internal combustion engines.However,up to now only a few papers are related to the state-of-the-art on LES of gas-particle flows and combustion.In this paper a review of the advances in LES of complex gas-particle flows and coal combustion is presented.Different sub-grid scale(SGS) stress models and combustion models are described,some of the main results are summarized,and some research needs are discussed.

Influence of gas pressure state on the motion parameters of coal-gas flow in the outburst hole

Carried on the one-dimensional analysis to the motion state of coal-gas flow in the outburst hole, and deduced the relational expression between the motion parameters （containing of velocity, flow rate and density etc.） of bursting coal-gas flow and gas pressure in the hole, then pointed out the critical state change of coal-gas flow under different pressure conditions which had the very tremendous influence on both stability and destructiveness of the entire coal and gas outburst system. The mathematical processing and results of one-dimensional flow under the perfect condition are simple and explicit in this paper, which has the certain practical significance.

Experiment research on two-stage dry-fed entrained flow coal gasifier

The process flow and the main devices of a new two-stage dry-fed coal gasification pilot plant with a throughout of 36 t/d are introduced in this paper. For comparison with the traditional one-stage gasifiers, the influences of the coal feed ratio between two stages on the performance of the gasifier are detailedly studied by a series of experiments. The results reveal that the two-stage gasification decreases the temperature of the syngas at the outlet of the gasifier, simplifies the gasification process, and reduces the size of the syngas cooler. Moreover, the cold gas efficiency of the gasifier can be improved by using the two-stage gasification. In our experiments, the efficiency is about 3%-6% higher than the existing one-stage gasifiers.

Flow Simulation and Optimization of Plasma Reactors for Coal Gasification

This paper reports a 3-d numerical simulation system to analyze the complicated flow in plasma reactors for coal gasification, which involve complex chemical reaction, two-phase flow and plasma effect. On the basis of analytic results, the distribution of the density, temperature and components' concentration are obtained and a different plasma reactor configuration is proposed to optimize the flow parameters. The numerical simulation results show an improved conversion ratio of the coal gasification. Different kinds of chemical reaction models are used to simulate the complex flow inside the reactor. It can be concluded that the numerical simulation system can be very useful for the design and optimization of the plasma reactor.

Evaluation of airlift pump performance for vertical conveying of coal particles

One of the crucial aspects of reducing air consumption when conveying particles with an airlift pump is to know the factors that affect the process of particle motion at an initial velocity of zero.To determine the influence of submer-gence ratio and physical properties of particles(such as size,shape,and mass)on the onset of vertical particle motion,the airlift pump was taken as the research object,and spherical glass together with irregular shaped coal were used as experimental test particles.The results show that unlike the water-solid environment,the start of particle motion in the water-air mixture does not always occur at a certain value of superficial water velocity and this value also increases with increasing submergence level.Among the parameters considered,the role of submergence ratio is much more effective than the dimensions and the shape of the particle,because by increasing submergence from 0.3 to 0.8,it is possible to reduce air consumption by up to 8 times.Based on this study the corresponding theoretical model derived by Fujimoto et al.is optimized,wherein the overall agreement between the modified theory and present experimental data is particularly good.Contrary to Fujimoto,the minimum superficial water velocity for lifting solids in the air-water mixture is not always smaller than water ambient which indicates on optimum submergence ratio higher than 0.7.Finally,a new criterion was introduced to describe the moment of onset of the particle motion as a function of the superficial fluid velocity ratio for each submergence value.

NUMERICAL MODELING OF 3-D TURBULENT TWO-PHASE FLOW AND COAL COMBUSTION IN A PULVERIZED-COAL COMBUSTOR

In the present paper, a multifluid model of two-phase flows with pulverized-coal combustion, based on a continuum-trajectory model with reacting particle phase, is developed and employed to simulate the 3-D turbulent two-phase hows and combustion in a new type of pulverized-coal combustor with one primary-air jet placed along the wall of the combustor. The results show that: (1) this continuum-trajectory model with reacting particle phase can be used in practical engineering to qualitatively predict the flame stability, concentrations of gas species, possibilities of slag formation and soot deposition, etc.; (2) large recirculation zones can be created in the combustor, which is favorable to the ignition and flame stabilization.

Predicting the height of water-flow fractured zone during coal mining under the Xiaolangdi Reservoir

It is very important to determine the extent of the fractured zone through which water can flow before coal mining under the water bodies.This paper deals with methods to obtain information about overburden rock failure and the development of the fractured zone while coal mining in Xin'an Coal Mine.The risk of water inrush in this mine is great because 40%of the mining area is under the Xiaolangdi reservoir.Numerical simulations combined with geophysical methods were used in this paper to obtain the development law of the fractured zone under different mining conditions.The comprehensive geophysical method described in this paper has been demonstrated to accurately predict the height of the water-flow fractured zone.Results from the new model, which created from the results of numerical simulations and field measurements,were successfully used for making decisions in the Xin'an Coal Mine when mining under the Xiaolangdi Reservoir.Industrial scale experiments at the number 11201,14141 and 14191 working faces were safely carried out.These achievements provide a successful background for the evaluation and application of coal mining under large reservoirs.

Effect of flow rates of gases flowing through a coal bed during coal heating and cooling on concentrations of gases emitted and fire hazard assessment

The flow velocity of gases in gobs directly influences the kinetics and intensity of gaseous components release during heating and cooling of coal.The assessment of fire hazard is performed on the basis of concentrations of particular gases in a mine air.These concentrations differ in coal heating and cooling phase which was proven in the study.This paper presented the results of the experimental study on temperature distribution in a simulated coal bed in heating(50–250°C)and cooling(250–35°C)phases as well as its correlation to variations in concentration of gases released in these phases and flow rates of gases flowing through the coal bed.The research was performed on twenty-two samples of bituminous coals acquired from various coal beds of Polish coal mines.Considerable differences were observed between heating and cooling phases in terms of the concentrations of gases taken into account in calculations of self-combustion index.In the heating phase temperature increase resulted in the decrease of concentrations ratios of ethane,ethylene,propane,propylene and acetylene,while in the cooling phase these ratios increased systemically.The effect of air(in heating phase)and nitrogen(in cooling phase)flow rate on the self-ignition index CO/CO2 was also determined.