Numerical Simulation of Coupled Thermal-Hydrological-Mechanical-Chemical Processes in the Spontaneous Combustion of Underground Coal Seams
In this study, we develop a fully coupled thermal-hydrological-mechanical-chemical (THMC) model to analyze the spontaneous combustion process of underground coal seams, focusing on investigating the influences of the pressure difference between oxygen and coal, the rate of coal-oxygen reaction heat,...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Geofluids |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9572502 |
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| Summary: | In this study, we develop a fully coupled thermal-hydrological-mechanical-chemical (THMC) model to analyze the spontaneous combustion process of underground coal seams, focusing on investigating the influences of the pressure difference between oxygen and coal, the rate of coal-oxygen reaction heat, and the activation energy. The simulation results show that as oxygen propagates into the coal seams, the coal-oxygen reaction causes the spontaneous combustion of coal to heat. The consumption of oxygen leads to an increase in oxygen consumption along the way and a decrease in gas pressure. The permeability near the right boundary increases while significantly reducing the area far away from the right boundary as the predominant effect of spontaneous combustion. Additionally, a sensitivity study shows that a more considerable pressure difference and coal-oxygen reaction heat contribute to promoting the coal temperature, while the activation energy has a slight effect. Moreover, an increase in coal-oxygen reaction heat and activation energy accelerates the oxygen consumption rate and thus causes a lower oxygen concentration. Overall, the results provide a basis for the prediction and prevention of coal seam spontaneous combustion. |
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| ISSN: | 1468-8115 1468-8123 |