| The success of the new technology of coal log pipeline (CLP) in its future commercialization depends to a great extent on the availability of coal logs which can be compacted rapidly and can survive a long distance of pipeline transportation without significant weight loss.; A mathematical model of the coal log consolidation is set up and a numerical solution to it using finite element method is provided. The numerical solution is implemented on computer in C Language. The resultant program, FESCLC, is checked first by comparing the numerical solution from it to the analytical solution to 1-D consolidation. Then, it is used to perform consolidation on laboratory-scale coal logs and the numerical results are compared with the existing experimental results. Finally, FESCLC is used to predict the consolidation times for commercial-scale coal logs compacted under different conditions. The water pressure on draining boundaries is modeled in this study in order to check if it can be neglected.; Studies show that the numerical solution to the coal log consolidation from FESCLC is reasonable comparing with the experimental results, coal logs can be compacted rapidly, and the water pressure on draining boundary can be neglected in general. |
