Method and apparatus for the gasification of coal

Method for the gasification of coal to convert volatile and readily reactive components in coal into hydrocarbons composed principally of CH.sub.4 with lesser amounts of C.sub.2 H.sub.6 and other hydrocarbons by the addition of hydrogen, and generating a hydrogen-containing gas by the addition of steam, comprising forming from the coal two grain fractions, a coarse fraction and a fine fraction, subjecting a portion of the fine fraction of the coal to hydrogenation in a hydrogenation zone in the presence of added hydrogen at an elevated temperature about 700.degree. C. to produce principally gaseous constituents containing hydrocarbons and a non-vaporous residual coke component containing principally carbon and ash, releasing the gaseous constituents from the hydrogenation zone, discharging the hot residual coke component from the hydrogenation zone, mixing the hot residual coke with another portion of said fine fraction of the coal, pressing said mixture to produce briquets, subjecting said briquets together with a coarse fraction of coal to steam gasification in a steam gasification zone in the presence of added steam at an elevated temperature to generate a hydrogen-containing gas leaving as residue an ash containing principally non-combustible material, releasing the hydrogen-containing gas from the gasification zone, and discharging the ash from the gasification zone.