Evolution characteristics of pore structure of coal under freeze-thaw cycles combined with scanning electron microscope instrument and nitrogen adsorption experiment

ABSTRACT

In this paper, anthracite in Shanxi region is taken as a research object, and the pore structure of coal under different freeze-thaw times is characterized and analyzed by scanning electron microscope and nitrogen adsorption experiment. The SEM experimental results show that the micron-scale cracks on the surface of anthracite gradually connect after freeze-thaw, and the secondary crack channels are formed around the pores and air holes, so that the pores also begin to connect. Further, the quantitative information of the picture was extracted, and it was found that the surface porosity and fractal dimension of the coal sample changed significantly after three freeze-thaw cycles, which increased by 163.3% and 15.9% respectively, and increased with the increase of freeze-thaw cycles. The results of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption experiments show that the coal samples after freeze-thaw are mainly crack, and the pore structure changes from simple to complex. In addition, the maximum nitrogen adsorption capacity, specific surface area and pore volume increased by 125.7%, 69.3% and 72.6%, respectively. With the increase of freeze-thaw times, the growth rates of maximum nitrogen adsorption capacity, specific surface area and pore volume are significantly different. The results of joint characterization show that the number of pores and cracks increases to different degrees after freezing and thawing. Comparing the increase in the degree of fracturing (163.3%) with the increase in the total pore volume (30.68%), we find that the degree of change of the crack after thawing is higher than that of the pore. In this paper, the damage effect of coal samples after freezing and thawing with liquid nitrogen is investigated from an experimental point of view, which accelerates the great leap of cyclic cryogenic fracturing technology from basic theory to technical practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Anthracite
• freezing and thawing cycle
• scanning electron microscope
• nitrogen adsorption
• pore evolution

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Key R&D and Promotion Projects in Henan Province (No. 202102310222).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the the Key R&D and Promotion Projects in Henan Province [202102310222].

Notes on contributors

Junwei Yuan

Junwei Yuan put forward the idea of writing the thesis and revised the manuscript all the time.

Jianxun Chen

Jianxun Chen is responsible for the writing of the thesis, including the first draft and revision

Yao Wang

Yao Wang proofread the paper.

Jingyi Xia

Jingyi Xia proofread the paper.

Min Chen

Min Chen is responsible for sorting out the references.