To　comprehensively　understanding　the　synergistic　effects　from　co-pyrolysis　of　cellulose　and　low-rank　coal,　product　distribution　and　kinetic　characteristics　were　investigated　based　on　both　online　and　offline　models.　Thermogravimetric　analysis　combined　with　differential　scanning　calorimetry　(DSC)　and　tubular　furnace　combined　with　online　mass　spectrometer　were　applied　to　investigate　the　synergistic　effects　from　product　distribution　under　slow　and　fast　co-pyrolysis　process,　respectively.　The　model-free　method　and　iso-conversion　method　were　used　for　analyzing　the　synergistic　interactions　of　kinetic　characteristics.　The　results　indicated　that　positive　synergy　from　volatile　products　and　kinetic　behavior　were　observed　from　the　slow　co-pyrolysis　with　50　wt%　and　75　wt%　of　cellulose,　with　the　lowest　activation　energy　of　244.44　kJ·mol−1　and　164.41　kJ·mol−1,　respectively.　Thermal　effect　analysis　from　DSC　indicated　that　the　endothermic　interval　of　cellulose　was　corresponding　with　the　synergy　interactions.　For　the　fast　co-pyrolysis　process,　both　the　temperature　and　the　mass　ratio　of　cellulose　influenced　the　synergistic　effect.　Cellulose　inhibited　the　formation　of　gaseous　products　and　promoted　the　formation　of　tar.　A　negative　synergistic　effect　was　observed　from　the　formation　of　CH4　and　H2.　The　activation　energy　for　the　generation　of　CH4　and　H2　from　the　mixture　was　higher　than　that　of　cellulose　or　low-rank　coal　alone.　The　results　could　provide　some　guidance　for　selecting　proper　reaction　conditions　with　the　optimal　synergy　during　co-pyrolysis　process.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd