Rapid pyrolysis of Taiheiyo coal was investigated with a laboratory-scale batch type reactor (BTR), which was specially developed to study various gasification processes at the conditions close to an industrial entrained bed gasifier. The experiments were carried out in helium at 1073 K, 7.1 MPa, varying reaction times from 1 to 80 s and coal/gas ratios in the range of 0.41-1.65 g/l. Extents of pyrolysis and profiles of product formation were discussed based on the results of char yield, gas and tar formation characteristics. It was observed that reaction of pyrolysis was significantly affected by coal/gas ratio. At high coal/gas ratios, pyrolysis was found to be retarded at initial stage. Pyrolysis products can be roughly divided into two groups. One is the ultimate products such as methane, carbon oxides, hydrogen, and benzene and the other is the intermediate products such as ethylene and toluene. Heat supply inside BTR was examined and the influence of thermal properties of atmospheric gases was investigated by carrying out pyrolysis in nitrogen and by comparing the results with that in helium. As a result, the heat capacity of atmospheric gas has less influence on pyrolysis process whereas heat conductivity of atmospheric gas as well as mixing conditions of gas and coal sample significantly affect the pyrolysis reaction. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.