Assessing the thermal cracking process of coal in high-temperature environment: an ultrasonic approach

Thermal cracking of coal in high-temperature environments poses a significant challenge to the sustainability of deep coal mining. It increases the risk of coal and gas outbursts and spontaneous combustion and also contributes to groundwater pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately undermi...

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Main Authors: Junjun Feng, Shigeng Li, Chuanhua Xu, Jun Peng, Qisong Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Earth Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1609410/full
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author Junjun Feng
Junjun Feng
Shigeng Li
Chuanhua Xu
Jun Peng
Qisong Huang
author_facet Junjun Feng
Junjun Feng
Shigeng Li
Chuanhua Xu
Jun Peng
Qisong Huang
author_sort Junjun Feng
collection DOAJ
description Thermal cracking of coal in high-temperature environments poses a significant challenge to the sustainability of deep coal mining. It increases the risk of coal and gas outbursts and spontaneous combustion and also contributes to groundwater pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately undermining the environmental sustainability of coal mining. This study investigates the coal thermal cracking in such environments and introduces an ultrasonic approach to evaluate the thermal cracking process. The results indicate a positive correlation between crack opening and cumulative moisture desorption, as well as between crack expansion rates and moisture desorption rates. In addition, the ultrasonic P-wave shows a robust response to both moisture desorption and thermal cracking, supported by nonlinear and linear models correlating wave velocity and attenuation coefficient, respectively. In addition, a theoretical model elucidates the driving forces, including surface tension and vapor pressure, that contribute significantly to thermal cracking at high temperatures. The ultrasonic method based on the theoretical model provides an innovative approach for assessing the coal thermal cracking process, contributing to improved environmental sustainability in deep coal mining.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
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spelling doaj-art-96f307984f824c82b0312313e0c38f4c2025-08-20T03:49:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632025-05-011310.3389/feart.2025.16094101609410Assessing the thermal cracking process of coal in high-temperature environment: an ultrasonic approachJunjun Feng0Junjun Feng1Shigeng Li2Chuanhua Xu3Jun Peng4Qisong Huang5Sinosteel Maanshan General Institute of Mining Research Co., Ltd., Maanshan, ChinaCivil Engineering and Architecture, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, ChinaCivil Engineering and Architecture, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, ChinaSinosteel Maanshan General Institute of Mining Research Co., Ltd., Maanshan, ChinaSinosteel Maanshan General Institute of Mining Research Co., Ltd., Maanshan, ChinaSinosteel Maanshan General Institute of Mining Research Co., Ltd., Maanshan, ChinaThermal cracking of coal in high-temperature environments poses a significant challenge to the sustainability of deep coal mining. It increases the risk of coal and gas outbursts and spontaneous combustion and also contributes to groundwater pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately undermining the environmental sustainability of coal mining. This study investigates the coal thermal cracking in such environments and introduces an ultrasonic approach to evaluate the thermal cracking process. The results indicate a positive correlation between crack opening and cumulative moisture desorption, as well as between crack expansion rates and moisture desorption rates. In addition, the ultrasonic P-wave shows a robust response to both moisture desorption and thermal cracking, supported by nonlinear and linear models correlating wave velocity and attenuation coefficient, respectively. In addition, a theoretical model elucidates the driving forces, including surface tension and vapor pressure, that contribute significantly to thermal cracking at high temperatures. The ultrasonic method based on the theoretical model provides an innovative approach for assessing the coal thermal cracking process, contributing to improved environmental sustainability in deep coal mining.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1609410/fulldeep coal miningthermal cracking assessmenthigh-temperature environmentultrasonic approachmoisture desorption
spellingShingle Junjun Feng
Junjun Feng
Shigeng Li
Chuanhua Xu
Jun Peng
Qisong Huang
Assessing the thermal cracking process of coal in high-temperature environment: an ultrasonic approach
Frontiers in Earth Science
deep coal mining
thermal cracking assessment
high-temperature environment
ultrasonic approach
moisture desorption
title Assessing the thermal cracking process of coal in high-temperature environment: an ultrasonic approach
title_full Assessing the thermal cracking process of coal in high-temperature environment: an ultrasonic approach
title_fullStr Assessing the thermal cracking process of coal in high-temperature environment: an ultrasonic approach
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the thermal cracking process of coal in high-temperature environment: an ultrasonic approach
title_short Assessing the thermal cracking process of coal in high-temperature environment: an ultrasonic approach
title_sort assessing the thermal cracking process of coal in high temperature environment an ultrasonic approach
topic deep coal mining
thermal cracking assessment
high-temperature environment
ultrasonic approach
moisture desorption
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1609410/full
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