Coal gasification

A method of producing syngas wherein a carbonaceous feedstock is exposed to a plasma arc generated by a DC supply in a dry-steam environment in an apparatus which includes a lower vessel and an upper vessel, wherein the carbonaceous feedstock is introduced directly into the lower vessel via a plasma arc plume or via the upper vessel which is operated as an entrained flow gasifier.

An apparatus for producing syngas from a carbonaceous feedstock material, which apparatus comprises a DC arc gasifier which processes the feedstock material and which includes a lower vessel within which a plasma arc is established and an upper vessel which is operated as an entrained flow gasifier wherein the feedstock is fed to the lower vessel through a) at least one hollow electrode or b) via the entrained flow gasifier.