Rapid hydropyrolysis of coal was carried out at temperatures ranging from 923 to 1123 K and H-2 pressures up to 7 MPa by using a continuous free-fall pyrolyzer. The effects of the reaction conditions on product yields were investigated. Carbon mass balance was fairly good. It was revealed that a large amount of methane was produced due to the hydrogenolysis of higher hydrocarbons and the hydrogasification of char. The influence of pyrolysis temperature was significant on both reactions while H-2 pressure mainly affected the latter. A considerable amount of reactive carbon was formed during hydropyrolysis of coal. It was converted to methane at high temperatures and high H-2 pressures, while the hydrogasification of reactive carbon takes place relatively slowly at low temperatures and low H-2 pressures, resulting in a low overall carbon conversion. The coal conversions observed in the present study were much higher than those obtained with using reactors where the contact between coal particles and H-2 is insufficient. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.