The technique of
high-voltage electrical pulses (HVEP) is a new
method to enhance the permeability of coal seams and improve the efficiency
of coalbed methane (CBM) exploitation. This paper is aimed at investigating
the crack propagation characteristics of samples of different strengths,
proposing the improved procedure of HVEP in field application, and
proving that the electrohydraulic effect has a wide use in field application
of CBM extraction. In this paper, an experimental system utilizing
HVEP in water condition is established, coal samples with different
strengths are crushed, and the extended processes of cracks are analyzed.
According to the research results, the electrohydraulic effect has
a good breakage on the coal; the number of main cracks is 2–3
and the length of the main cracks is about 30 cm in the vertical direction
of the hard samples; and the formation of cracks is relevant to the
discharge voltage, discharge times, and mechanical parameters of the
samples. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrate
that the cracks and pore connectivity of the coal samples are improved
obviously, and the permeability results show that the permeability
of crushed coal samples is 20% greater than that of the raw coal sample.
Meanwhile, the generation process of cracks can be divided into four
periods: namely, fatigue damage accumulation, slow development, rapid
development, and failure; the rapid development stage is the optimal
phase in field application. Moreover, the shock wave produced by HVEP
via electrohydraulic effect can crush the samples mainly; furthermore,
the energy produced by bubble rupture also has a great influence on
the formation of cracks. This study can provide a foundation for the
HVEP to improve CBM exploitation.