The structural transformations in three coal components, barkinite, vitrinite and resinite, on heat-treatment from 200 to 700 degrees C were investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) technique. The orientation in chemical structure was examined by HRTEM image. The orientation in aromatic layers of three coal components increased gradually on heating from 200 degrees C to 700 degrees C. Vitrinite followed barkinite's transition some 50 degrees C later in temperatures of chemical structural change than barkinite. The transformations of structural parameters derived from TEM images of three coal components were different, including the interlayer spacing (d), the layer size (La), the number of aromatic layers per stack (n), and the aromatic layer stacking height (Lc). At least three temperature stages (200-400, 400-600, and 600-700 degrees C) were shown. Barkinite has similar change trends of d, Lc, and n with resinite however the La values were similar to vitrinite at 200-700 degrees C. Both barkinite and resinite had significant decreased d values at 200-400 degrees C and gradual decreased from 400 degrees C to 600 degrees C. The values of Lc and n for barkinite and resinite exhibit no obvious changes at 200-400 degrees C and increased significantly > 450 degrees C. Vitrinite decrease significantly in d from 450 to 600 degrees C (4.32-3.62 angstrom) and increase greatly in Lc and d up to 450 degrees C (12.84-20.29 angstrom). Vitrinite and barkinite have two temperature ranges for increasing significantly in La from 400 degrees C to 700 degrees C. When the temperature is > 600 degrees C, these coal components had much larger Lc, n, and La values with temperature increasing and decreased gradually in d values. The variation of structural parameters when heating was explained by the alteration of chemical structures in coal on pyrolysis and plastic behavior.