Abstract: A process for the continuous preparation of hydrocarbon oils from coal by cracking hydrogenation under pressure in two stages. In the first stage (carried out in the bottom phase) milled coal, together with finely divided catalysts, is pasted with an oil mixture, and the slurry is hydrogenated by heating to 380.degree.-440.degree. C. under a hydrogen pressure of from 200 to 700 bar. The gaseous and liquid reaction products are separated from the solid products and subjected to a further hydrogenation (this time in the gas phase), using a fixed hydrogenation catalyst. The heat of the hydrogenated product is indirectly and separately transferred to the coal/oil mixture and the hydrogen by heat exchange in not less than three stages.

Abstract: A multi-stage reactor for hydrogenating coal slurry in a pressure vessel for pressures of up to 700 bar, preferably of up to 350 bar, with inlets for gas and coal slurry through the reactor bottom, an outlet for sludge, gases and vapors in the reactor top, and dividing trays in the pressure vessel, by means of which trays the individual reaction stages are separated from one another, wherein each dividing tray has a progressively reducing cross-section, with passage orifices, over its entire lower face, so as to prevent coal slurry caking onto the tray in the direction of flow of the reactants (gas and coal slurry).