Kinetic analysis of rapid coal devolatilization in a spot heater apparatus was made for Tatong coal. A multiple-stage measuring technique was devised to provide the change of total volatiles with time/temperature during the devolatilization. On the basis of the analyses of the total volatiles yield and measured temperature of coal particle, the kinetic parameters of the rapid devolatilization for Tatong coal were estimated by applying Distributed Activation Energy Model (DA-EM). (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.