Staged combustion properties for pulverized coals have been investigated by using a new-concept drop-tube furnace. Two high-temperature electric furnaces were connected in series. Coal was burnt under fuel-rich conditions in the first furnace, then, staged air was supplied at the connection between the two furnaces. Reaction temperature (1800-2100 K) and time (1-2 s) were similar to those used in actual boilers. When coal was burnt at the same stoichiometric ratio as in actual boilers, similar combustion performance values as for actual boilers were obtained regarding NOx emission and carbon in ash. The most important factor for low NOx combustion was to raise the combustion temperature above the present range (1800-2100 K) in the fuel-rich zone. The NOx emission was significantly increased with decrease of burning temperature in the fuel-rich zone when the temperature was lower than 1800 K. But, NOx emission was cut to around 100-150 ppm, for sub-bituminous coal and hv-bituminous coal, in the latest commercial plants by forming this high-temperature fuel-rich region in the boilers. If the temperature and stoichiometric ratio could be set to the most suitable conditions, and, burning gas and air were mixed well, it would be possible to lower NO emission to 30-60 ppm (6% O-2). The most important NOx reduction reaction in the fuel-rich zone was the NOx reduction by hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon formation rate in the flame was varied with coal properties and combustion conditions. The NOx was easily reduced when coals which easily formed hydrocarbons were used, or, when burning conditions which easily formed hydrocarbons were chosen. Effects of burning temperature and stoichiometric ratio on NOx emission were reproduced by the previously proposed reaction model. When solid fuel was used, plant performance values varied with fuel properties. The proposed drop-tube furnace system was also found to be a useful analysis technique to evaluate the difference in combustion performance due to the fuel properties. (C) 2011 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.