The pyrolysis of wood was carried out ill an Entrained Flow Reactor at high temperature (650 to 950 degrees C) and under rapid heating conditions (> 10(3) Ks(-1)). The influence of the diameter and initial moisture of the particle, reactor temperature, residence time and the nature of the gaseous atmosphere on the composition of the gaseous products has been characterised. Particle size, between 80-125 and 160-200 mu m, did not show any impact. Pyrolysis and tar cracking essentially happen in very short time period: less than 0.6 s; the products yields are only slightly modified after 0.6 s in the short residence times (several seconds) of our experiments. Higher temperatures improve hydrogen yield in the gaseous product while CO yield decreases. Under nitrogen atmosphere, after 2 s at 950 degrees C, 76% (daf) of the mass of wood is recovered as gases: CO, CO2, H-2, CH4, C2H2, C2H4 and H2O. Tests performed under steam partial pressure showed that hydrogen production is slightly enhanced. (c) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.