Differences in Influence of Particle Size on the Adsorption Capacity between Deformed and Undeformed Coal

The prediction exactness of coalbed methane (CBM) content and productivity correlates closely with the gas adsorption rules of coal, but there is a noticeable difference in the gas adsorption rules between deformed and undeformed coal. One of the main factors affecting the gas adsorption capacity of coal is pore structure, which is affected by the particle size, and it is also one of the essential differences between deformed and undeformed coal. In this work, we experimentally study the law of the pore structure and gas adsorption capacity with the particle size. Results show that the specific surface area and the pore volume of undeformed coal increase significantly as the particle size decreases, while the variation trend of those of deformed coal is insignificant. The fractal dimension D ₂ and the particle size show a U-shaped correlation. The fractal dimension D ₂ reaches the minimum value at a coal particle size of 1-3 mm and 0.2-0.25 mm for deformed and undeformed coal, respectively. The D ₂ values of deformed and undeformed coal are closest in the case of particle sizes smaller than 0.1 mm. The difference in the adsorption capacity between deformed and undeformed coal diminishes with the decreasing particle size as the pore structure characteristics of undeformed coal gradually approach those of deformed coal. The obtained conclusions provide a theoretical foundation for the selection of the particle size of coal samples so as to predict coal and gas outburst disasters and CBM productivity accurately.