A three-component particle-dynamics anemometer is used to measure, in the near-burner region, the influence of the particle bias in the primary air duct on the gas/particle flow characteristics for a centrally fuel rich swirl coal combustion burner, in conjunction with a gas/particle two-phase test facility. Velocities, particle volume flux profiles and normalized particle number concentrations were obtained. Compared with a common burner (a centrally fuel rich burner without a particle concentrator), the degree of penetration for the centrally fuel rich burner is higher, the residence time of particles in the central recirculation zone is longer and the central recirculation zone is larger. The particle volume flux and normalized particle number concentration for the centrally fuel rich burner are much larger near the chamber axis. The influence of gas/particle flow characteristics on combustion has been analyzed. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.