Fluidics is a technology that provides sensing, amplifying and controlling functions with fluid power through the interaction of a fluid stream with other fluid streams or with a sensing object without using mechanical moving parts. Previous applications of fluidics differ from many of the sensing and controlling needs for coal conversion/utilization processes in that none of the previous systems has to sense multiphase fluids containing solid particles and/or vapors. Such particles and/or vapors can alter or completely block the critical dimensioned flow passages in the fluidic circuits. For fluidics technology to be successfully applied to coal conversion/utilization processes, interfacing design concepts for sensing and power fluidics techniques need to be identified and developed. After making an extensive literature survey, we have identified a number of sensing and controlling functions that can be advantageously implemented by using fluidic technology. We have also presented the basic design and methods of implementation. It appears that fluidic technology can be used to sense pressure, temperature, flow rates, and level for coal conversion/utilization processes. Fluidic technology can also be used to divert and throttle flow process streams. Particle separation devices can be designed with wall-attachment-type fluidic elements. One can also cool electronic and acoustic instrumentation with a fluidic vortex tube. 25 refs., 27 figs.