Pyrolysis and ignition characteristics of pulverized coals were examined under similar burning conditions to those of industrial burners. In the early stage, fine particles (less than 37 mum) were mainly pyrolyzed by convective heat transfer from surrounding gas. The coals ignited when pyrolyzed volatile matter mixed with surrounding air and formed a combustible mixture. Pyrolysis of large particles was delayed, but accelerated after ignition by radiant heat transfer from coal flames. The effects of radiant hear transfer were strong for intermediate-size particles (37-74 mum). Ignition temperature was examined analytically by using a modified distributed activation energy model for pyrolysis. The calculated results agreed with experimental ones obtained from both laboratory-scale and semi-industrial-scale burners.