Abstract: An apparatus is provided for converting coal to gas, liquid and solid products. The coal is subjected to a pyrolysis reaction at a temperature of at least about 260.degree. C. in the presence of a hydrogen-containing gas, and the resultant solid residue subjected to a gasification reaction with oxygen and steam at a temperature of at least about 482.degree. C. thereby generating the necessary hydrogen-containing gas for the pyrolysis reaction and producing a solid product. Heat generated in the exothermic gasification reaction is transferred to the pyrolysis reaction, so the apparatus does not require any external source of heat except for means (88) to control the temperature of the gases passing to the pyrolysis reaction chamber. The gaseous fraction generated in the pyrolysis reaction is cooled to produce liquid and gas products, preferably after having first been subjected to a Fischer-Tropsch reaction.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for converting coal to gas, liquid and solid products, which comprises a single vessel including a pyrolysis chamber (20) disposed in the upper part of the vessel, and a gasification chamber (29) disposed beneath the pyrolysis chamber in the lower part of the vessel. The coal is subjected to a pyrolysis reaction at a temperature of at least about 260.degree. C. in the presence of a hydrogen-containing gas, and the resultant solid residue subjected to a gasification reaction with oxygen and steam at a temperature of at least about 482.degree. C. thereby generating the necessary hydrogen-containing gas for the pyrolysis reaction and producing a solid product. Heat generated during the exothermic gasification reaction is also transferred from the gasification chamber to the pyrolysis chamber for the endothermic reaction therein by conduction through a common dividing wall (74) interconnecting the two chambers.