Two-dimensional SEM image-based analysis of coal porosity and its pore structure

Abstract A quantitative analysis of the porosity, pore size distribution, and fractal dimensions of pores is significant for studying the pore structure characteristics of coal. This study utilized 12 anthracite coal samples from the Sihe mining area to explore the pore structure characteristics of the coal therein. Hundred randomly selected points on each sliced coal sample were imaged via scanning electron microscopy, and a total of 1200 images were used for the analysis. The porosity and fractal dimensions of the coal samples were analyzed via digital image processing and box-counting dimension methods. This method is characterized by extensive graphical analysis, and the results are based on statistical methods. These were also used to analyze the structural and development characteristics of the microscopic pores in the coal. The results reveal that the surface porosity obtained via digital image processing was 16.11% lower than that measured experimentally. The fractal dimension and porosity of the pore surface were fitted to a natural logarithmic curve. The rate of change in the pore fractal dimension depends on the porosity such that, to some degree, a greater porosity is associated with more complex pore structures, a higher degree of micropore development, and improved pore connectivity.