Effect of Coal Rank on Various Fluid Saturations Creating Mechanical Property Alterations Using Australian Coals

Mandadige Samintha Anne Perera, Ashani Savinda Ranathunga and Pathegama Gamage Ranjith
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Mandadige Samintha Anne Perera: Deep Earth Energy Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Building 60, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
Ashani Savinda Ranathunga: Deep Earth Energy Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Building 60, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
Pathegama Gamage Ranjith: Deep Earth Energy Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Building 60, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia

Energies, 2016, vol. 9, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: During CO 2 sequestration in deep coal seams, the coal mass may be subjected to various fluid (CO 2 , N 2 , etc. ) saturations. Therefore, in order to maintain the long-term integrity of the process, it is necessary to identify the mechanical responses of preferable coal seams for various fluid saturations. To date, many studies have focused on the CO 2 saturation effect on coal mass strength and less consideration has been given to the influence of other saturation mediums. Hence, this study aims to investigate coal’s mechanical responses to water and N 2 saturations compared to CO 2 saturation and to determine the effect of coal-rank. A series of unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests was conducted on Australian brown and black coal samples saturated with water and N 2 at various saturation pressures. An advanced acoustic emission (AE) system was utilized to identify the changes in crack propagation behaviors under each condition. According to the results, both CO 2 and water act similarly with coal by enhancing the ductile properties of the coal mass and this mechanical weakening is greater for high-rank coal. Conversely, N 2 saturation slightly enhances coal strength and delays crack propagation in coal and this strength enhancement can be improved by increasing the N 2 saturation pressure.

Keywords: coal rank; mechanical properties; N 2 saturation; CO 2 saturation; water saturation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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