An apparatus (10) for the preparation of acetylene and synthesis gas by partial oxidation of hydrocarbons with oxygen is proposed. The apparatus (10) comprises a reactor (12), wherein the reactor (12) comprises a burner block (14) with a furnace chamber for the preparation of a composition C1 comprising at least acetylene and substituted acetylene, a first scrubber (22) which is constructed for adding a solvent to the composition C1 to obtain a composition C2, a second scrubber (26) which is constructed for adding the solvent to the composition C2 to obtain a composition C3, a first stripper (36) which is constructed for stripping the composition C3 to obtain a composition C4 comprising the substituted acetylene, acetylene and the solvent and for separating off the acetylene, a first column (46) which is constructed for partial degassing of the composition C4 under a pressure of from 1.0 bar to 1.5 bar to obtain a composition C5 and a first amount A1 of the solvent, a second stripper (56) to which the composition C5 can be fed for stripping a composition C9 to obtain a second amount A2 of the solvent and a composition C6, a third stripper (68) which is constructed for stripping the solvent from the first scrubber (22) to obtain a composition C9, wherein the third striper (68) is connected to the second stripper (56) for feeding the composition C9 to the second stripper (56), an apparatus (72) for adding a diluting gas to the composition C5, which is arranged between the first column (46) and the second stripper (56), a second column (76) which is constructed for adding water to the composition C6 to obtain a composition C7 comprising a third amount A3 of the solvent and water and to obtain a composition C8 comprising the substituted acetylene, and a mixing condenser (82) which is constructed for adding water to the composition C8 to obtain a composition C11 comprising the substituted acetylene.A process for the preparation of acetylene and synthesis gas by partial oxidation of hydrocarbons with oxygen is further proposed.