The optimization process of coal defrosting in defrosting tunnels is solved in this article. Individual technical solutions of defrosting tunnels, as well as energy demands, are dealt with in this report. Defrosting tunnels are used for the defrosting of deep-frozen substrates like coal, ore or powdery substances. There are two different ways of defrosting The first one is based on convective heating and the second one on radiant heating. Nowadays, convective heating is used much more than radiant heating. However. theory and practice show that the radiant heating is much more efficient The aim of this article is to describe the design and construction of a multifunctional method of a defrosting tunnel In the second stage we make experimental measurements of convective and radiant methods of defrosting on a built model. Its third aim is to make energy and economy assessments of defrosting process on the model. Finally, to implement the acquired knowledge in the practice, determining the conditions, in which the change of present-day convective defrosting technology to the new radiant technology becomes effective. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.