The advanced high efficiency cycles are all based on gas turbine technology, so coal gasification is the heart of the process. A 2 MWth spout-fluid bed gasifier has been constructed to study the partial gasification performance of a high ash Chinese coal. This paper presents the results of pilot plant partial gasification tests carried out at 0.5 MPa pressure and temperatures within the range of 950-980 degrees C in order to assess the technical feasibility of the raw gas and residual char generated from the gasifiier for use in the gas turbine based power plant. The results indicate that the gasification process at a higher temperature is better as far as carbon conversion, gas yield and cold gas efficiency are concerned. Increasing steam to coal ratio from 0.32 to 0.45 favors the water-gas and water-gas shift reactions that causes hydrogen content in the raw gas to rise. Coal gasification at a higher bed height shows advantages in gas quality, carbon conversion, gas yield and cold gas efficiency. The gas heating value data obtained from the deep-bed-height displays only 6-12% lower than the calculated value on the basis of Gibbs free energy minimization. The char residue shows high combustion reactivity and more than 99% combustion efficiency can be achieved. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.