A three-component particle-dynamics anemometer is used to measure, in the near-burner region, the characteristics of gas/particle two-phase flows with a centrally fuel rich swirl coal combustion burner and enhanced ignition-dual register burner, on a gas/particle two-phase test facility. Velocities, RMS velocities, particle mean diameters and particle volume flux profiles were obtained. For the centrally fuel rich burner, particles penetrate the central recirculation zone partially, and are then deflected radially. For the enhanced ignition-dual register burner, particles completely penetrate the central recirculation zone. Compared with the enhanced ignition-dual register burner, in the same cross-section, the particle volume flux peak value for the centrally fuel rich burner is much closer to the chamber axis and much larger near the chamber axis. In six cross-sections from x/d = 0.3 to 2.5, the particle volume flux in the central recirculation zone for the centrally fuel rich burner is much larger than that for the enhanced ignition-dual register burner. For the centrally fuel rich burner, most of bigger particles are resident in the region near the chamber axis and the residence time is prolonged. The influence of gas/particle flow characteristics on combustion has been analyzed. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.