Liquid seepage in coal granular-type porous medium

Abstract

To investigate liquid seepage process in a coal granular-type porous medium, a new sampling device was designed to obtain coal samples with required porosity. Meanwhile, an approach combining ultra-deep-field microscopy with advanced digital image processing technologies was proposed to rebuild granular-type porous medium models. The liquid seepage process was simulated with CFD, and the effects of head pressure, liquid viscosity, and pore size were studied. The results show that only liquids with head pressures above a critical value can penetrate into coal stacks and the hydraulic conductivity and permeability are positively correlated to the driving head pressure. Liquid viscosity enhances flow deformation, causing more eddy current energy dissipation; the turbulent eddy dissipation caused by acetone, methanol, and ethanol was 700, 1200, and 4700 m2/s3, respectively. Larger pores can strengthen the additional pressure at the front end of the flow, reducing the flow resistance and thus increasing the fluid kinetic energy and seepage velocity.