Experimental investigation and ReaxFF simulation on pore structure evolution mechanism during coalification of coal macromolecules in different ranks

Abstract This analysis revealed the alterations in the pore structure of large organic molecules in coal during the process of coal pyrolysis. Nine models of macromolecular structures in coals, representing distinct coal ranks, have been built. The research results show that along with the increasin...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wu Li, Minrui Cui, Jin Li, Zhonghua Du, Xingyu Zhan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80520-0
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846101146872053760
author Wu Li
Minrui Cui
Jin Li
Zhonghua Du
Xingyu Zhan
author_facet Wu Li
Minrui Cui
Jin Li
Zhonghua Du
Xingyu Zhan
author_sort Wu Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This analysis revealed the alterations in the pore structure of large organic molecules in coal during the process of coal pyrolysis. Nine models of macromolecular structures in coals, representing distinct coal ranks, have been built. The research results show that along with the increasing coal rank, the average microporous volume of medium rank coal is 0.0287 cm3/g. The average microporous volume of high-grade coal is 0.0662 cm3/g. The micropore volume and specific surface area of coal samples decrease in the order of high rank, low rank, and middle coal. The experimental measurements align with the ReaxFF pyrolysis simulation calculations, indicating a decrease in the hydrogen to carbon ratio and oxygen to carbon ratio of all coal molecules. Additionally, the pore volume and specific surface area exhibit a pattern of initially decreasing and then increasing. The simulation results of gas probes indicate that a majority of the pores with a diameter larger than that of CH4 molecules are found in the macromolecular structure models of low rank coal and medium to high rank coal. The conclusions are useful for us to understand the formation and development process of pores in coal reservoir. A two-dimensional representation of coal’s macromolecular structure was constructed using ChemDraw software. The Forcite module in Materials Studio software was used to perform geometric optimization and annealing kinetics simulation of a two-dimensional macromolecular structure model. The ReaxFF-MD module in Amsterdam Modeling Suite (AMS) 2020 software to model the pyrolysis of XJ coal macromolecules.
format Article
id doaj-art-c7e7f16c1f014d1bb8b7235c0ac8ab7c
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-c7e7f16c1f014d1bb8b7235c0ac8ab7c2024-12-29T12:28:31ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114112010.1038/s41598-024-80520-0Experimental investigation and ReaxFF simulation on pore structure evolution mechanism during coalification of coal macromolecules in different ranksWu Li0Minrui Cui1Jin Li2Zhonghua Du3Xingyu Zhan4Key Laboratory of Coalbed Methane Resource and Reservoir Formation Process, Ministry of Education, China University of Mining and TechnologyKey Laboratory of Coalbed Methane Resource and Reservoir Formation Process, Ministry of Education, China University of Mining and TechnologyKey Laboratory of Coalbed Methane Resource and Reservoir Formation Process, Ministry of Education, China University of Mining and TechnologyKey Laboratory of Coalbed Methane Resource and Reservoir Formation Process, Ministry of Education, China University of Mining and TechnologyKey Laboratory of Coalbed Methane Resource and Reservoir Formation Process, Ministry of Education, China University of Mining and TechnologyAbstract This analysis revealed the alterations in the pore structure of large organic molecules in coal during the process of coal pyrolysis. Nine models of macromolecular structures in coals, representing distinct coal ranks, have been built. The research results show that along with the increasing coal rank, the average microporous volume of medium rank coal is 0.0287 cm3/g. The average microporous volume of high-grade coal is 0.0662 cm3/g. The micropore volume and specific surface area of coal samples decrease in the order of high rank, low rank, and middle coal. The experimental measurements align with the ReaxFF pyrolysis simulation calculations, indicating a decrease in the hydrogen to carbon ratio and oxygen to carbon ratio of all coal molecules. Additionally, the pore volume and specific surface area exhibit a pattern of initially decreasing and then increasing. The simulation results of gas probes indicate that a majority of the pores with a diameter larger than that of CH4 molecules are found in the macromolecular structure models of low rank coal and medium to high rank coal. The conclusions are useful for us to understand the formation and development process of pores in coal reservoir. A two-dimensional representation of coal’s macromolecular structure was constructed using ChemDraw software. The Forcite module in Materials Studio software was used to perform geometric optimization and annealing kinetics simulation of a two-dimensional macromolecular structure model. The ReaxFF-MD module in Amsterdam Modeling Suite (AMS) 2020 software to model the pyrolysis of XJ coal macromolecules.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80520-0PorosityMacromolecular structureCoalReaxFF-MD
spellingShingle Wu Li
Minrui Cui
Jin Li
Zhonghua Du
Xingyu Zhan
Experimental investigation and ReaxFF simulation on pore structure evolution mechanism during coalification of coal macromolecules in different ranks
Scientific Reports
Porosity
Macromolecular structure
Coal
ReaxFF-MD
title Experimental investigation and ReaxFF simulation on pore structure evolution mechanism during coalification of coal macromolecules in different ranks
title_full Experimental investigation and ReaxFF simulation on pore structure evolution mechanism during coalification of coal macromolecules in different ranks
title_fullStr Experimental investigation and ReaxFF simulation on pore structure evolution mechanism during coalification of coal macromolecules in different ranks
title_full_unstemmed Experimental investigation and ReaxFF simulation on pore structure evolution mechanism during coalification of coal macromolecules in different ranks
title_short Experimental investigation and ReaxFF simulation on pore structure evolution mechanism during coalification of coal macromolecules in different ranks
title_sort experimental investigation and reaxff simulation on pore structure evolution mechanism during coalification of coal macromolecules in different ranks
topic Porosity
Macromolecular structure
Coal
ReaxFF-MD
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80520-0
work_keys_str_mv AT wuli experimentalinvestigationandreaxffsimulationonporestructureevolutionmechanismduringcoalificationofcoalmacromoleculesindifferentranks
AT minruicui experimentalinvestigationandreaxffsimulationonporestructureevolutionmechanismduringcoalificationofcoalmacromoleculesindifferentranks
AT jinli experimentalinvestigationandreaxffsimulationonporestructureevolutionmechanismduringcoalificationofcoalmacromoleculesindifferentranks
AT zhonghuadu experimentalinvestigationandreaxffsimulationonporestructureevolutionmechanismduringcoalificationofcoalmacromoleculesindifferentranks
AT xingyuzhan experimentalinvestigationandreaxffsimulationonporestructureevolutionmechanismduringcoalificationofcoalmacromoleculesindifferentranks