A lab scale gasifier was built to perform the gasification experiment. The effects of temperature and steam flow on the process were investigated, and the effects of the addition of blast furnace gas ash (BFGA) on product composition, the value of H-2/(CO + CO2), the lower heating value (LHV) of product gas, and productivity are summarized. The experimental results clearly indicate that the addition of BFGA in the steam gasification of corn straw pellets effectively enhances the ability of the downdraft gasifier to produce hydrogen-rich gas. Compared with the non-catalytic gasification process, the addition of BFGA promotes the formation of H-2, inhibits the generation of methane, CH4, and other hydrocarbon gases, CnHm, and increases the H-2/(CO + CO2) ratio. Unlike the process without the BFGA, the LHV of the product gas with BFGA increases with increasing temperature. When the water vapor volume was 0.75 kg/h, the gas production rate was the same at 850 degrees C with BFGA and at 950 degrees C without ash gas. The addition of BFGA clearly leads to a significant improvement in the ability of gasifiers to produce hydrogen-rich gas. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC.