A novel method for analyzing the heating of coal particles in a coal powder-laden jet in the near-burner region is proposed. This method takes into accout both the delay due to coal paricle unsteady heating and the induction period needed for the coal particle to ignite from the practical engineering point of view. A review of the flow and heating of coal partcles is preseted. The principle and analysis procedures for estimating the ignition heat and the heat balance are oulined. The advantage of the propsed method over the previous analyzing method which is based on the steady-state heat balance is also discussed. The influncing trends of various factors on the results are calculated and drawn in a group of diagrans. The calculating procedure is demonstrated by using an industrial swirl burner as data source. The predicted hot gases recirculating ratio is in geeral agreenent with the measurements on the physical model. This study offers a useful reference in engineering practice for improving burnher design and performance.