A theoretical-experimental study of the combustion of pulverized coal in the blowpipe and raceway of the blast furnace was undertaken. The objective of the study was to develop a mathematical model of combustion, and to evaluate it against experimental data. Both experimental and theoretical work involved three levels of complexity: (1) Laboratory-scale studies on coal devolatilization; (2) Pilot-scale combustion studies in a physical blowpipe-model; and (3) Combustion studies in a full-scale blast furnace. The predictions of the theoretical models compared favourably with the experimental data. Coal grind and devolatilization characteristics are shown to have a substantial effect on coal burnoff. Dispersion of the injected coal within the main blast is found to have a significant effect on coal burnoff. Gas recirculation and coke combustion within the raceway are found to influence the combustion of the injected coal.