Changes in the sorption/diffusion kinetics of a coal-methane system caused by different temperatures and pressures

Abstract

This paper presents the results of studies into the kinetic adsorption properties of methane on coal (effective diffusion coefficient) using the gravimetric method. The measurements of the time waveforms of methane sorption on coal and the use of the unipore model of diffusion allowed to determine the diffusion coefficients at different temperatures in the range of 291 K to 331 K and pressures up to 1.7MPa. This study have shown that the diffusion coefficient increases with increasing temperature. The relationship between the diffusion coefficient and the temperature of the coal-methane system appears to be linear. The value of the diffusion coefficient of Crank's solution is also affected by methane pressure, which shows that the diffusion coefficient is not a material constant. This analysis also references Timofeev's discussion on the diffusion coefficient, and analyzes the relationship between the coefficient of diffusion and the Henry's isotherm coefficient. Examination has shown that the Timofeev's diffusion coefficients is characterized by less variability when compared to the diffusion coefficients according to Crank's solution. At temperatures above 311 K, the diffusion coefficients by Timofeev seem to be independent of the pressure.