The invention provides an activated carbon regeneration device and method based on self-sustaining combustion. The method mainly aims at efficient regeneration of waste activated carbon adsorbing volatile organic compounds or gaseous inorganic compounds, an oxidizing agent is introduced into one side of a waste activated carbon particle fixed bed, an ignition device is arranged on the other side of the waste activated carbon particle fixed bed, and a plurality of thermocouple sensors and observation windows are arranged in the flowing direction of the oxidizing agent to monitor the combustionprocess. According to the invention, self-maintaining oxygen-deficient combustion is realized in the activated carbon bed by reasonably controlling the flow of the oxidizing agent; the formed flame penetrates through the whole bed layer; according to the present invention, the flame can move towards the oxidizing agent incoming flow direction so as to achieve the regeneration of the waste activated carbon, and the generated regenerated tail gas can be directly recycled or combusted so as to meet the regeneration requirements of the waste activated carbon in chemical industry, environmental protection industry, power plant industry, petrochemical industry, furniture industry and other industries, such that the device and method have good practical application values.