Heat injection is
an effective way to enhance coalbed methane (CBM)
extraction. However, at present, the best way to inject that heat
is not clear. To determine how the heating rate affects methane desorption,
desorption tests at constant high (95 °C) and low (20 °C)
temperatures and at three different heating rates (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9
°C/min to 95 °C) were conducted. The desorption content
(the volume of gas desorbed per mass of coal) and the desorption rate
under the constant 95 °C temperature were greater than those
under the constant 20 °C temperature. For the heating rate tests,
the total desorption contents under heating rates of 0.3, 0.6, and
0.9 °C/min were 1.322 times, 1.115 times, and 1.095 times that
from the constant 95 °C temperature tests, respectively. The
final desorption contents from the entire desorption process under
heating rates of 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 °C/min were 1.42 times, 1.30
times, and 1.20 times that from the constant 95 °C temperature
tests, respectively. In the early parts of the heating stages, the
desorption rates under the three heating rate tests were lower than
those under the constant 95 °C temperature tests. When the heating
stages ended, the desorption rates under the three heating rates were
greater than those under the constant 95 °C temperature tests.
After the heating ended, the desorption rates decreased rapidly. A
higher heating rate was correlated with a faster decrease in the desorption
rate. Kinetic analysis showed that heating coal to a high temperature
before methane is desorbed did not suppress the diffusion coefficient
decrease. Heating during desorption prevented the diffusion coefficient
decrease. A lower heating rate is correlated with a slower diffusion
coefficient decrease. Low heating rates were more effective for desorbing
methane. The heat injection in the later stage of desorption had a
more significant effect on promoting methane desorption than did the
early desorption stage heat injection. An equation for calculating
the optimal heat injection rate was proposed. These findings will
offer significant references for the selection of a suitable way to
inject heat to enhance CBM extraction.