A coal co-gasification method, comprising the following steps: 1, fuel and a first pressurised oxygen-containing gas are injected into a gasifier, and the fuel is ignited so as to increase the temperature inside the gasifier; 2, when the temperature increase reaches a temperature capable of igniting powdered coal to be injected, injection of the fuel is stopped, injection of the first pressurised oxygen-containing gas is continued, and a pressurised carbon dioxide gas carrying the powdered coal to be injected is injected into the gasifier so as to perform powdered coal gasification; 3, once the powdered coal gasification has stabilised, coal-water slurry and an oxygen-containing gas are injected into the gasifier to perform co-gasification. The method operates stably, and overcomes cumbersome and time-consuming adjustment steps in the prior art.

The invention relates to a process for producing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and a carbon-containing product in at least one reaction apparatus, wherein the at least one reaction apparatus comprises a bed of carbon-containing material and is characterized in that the bed of carbon-containing material in the at least one reaction apparatus is alternately heated to a temperature of >800 C. and, no later than upon reaching a temperature of 1800 C., cooled to a maximum of 800 C., wherein hydrogen and carbon monoxide are produced during the heating phase and carbon and hydrogen are produced during the cooling phase.

A method of producing a gas from a combustible material is provided. The method comprises the steps of loading the combustible material into a containment structure and sealing it therein. An oxidant is fed into the sealed containment structure with a controlled flow rate and a controlled rate of movement such that the combustible material is partly converted, thereby leaving behind thermally affected layers of combustible material after the injection point has passed through the material. At least some of the combustible material is converted into molten slag and or char that accumulates as the bottom-most thermally affected layer and subsequently cools and solidifies. The method is characterised in that it further includes the step of discharging solid slag and or char in the bottom-most thermally affected layer from under material that remains in the containment structure to remove solid slag and or char from the containment structure.