Abstract: Carr's flowability index was used to evaluate the flow ability and the jet flow characteristic of pulverized coal for a blast furnace.The effects of coal characteristics including maceral and coal rank on the flow ability during pulverized coal injection in a blast furnace were investigated.The results show that the correlation between the flow ability and the jet flow characteristic is almost negative.Coal rank has remarkable effect on the flow ability and the jet flow characteristic.Bituminous coal with a low metamorphic grade has a poor flow ability and an excellent jet flow characteristic,but anthracite coal with a high metamorphic grade has an excellent flow ability and a poor jet flow characteristic.When the volume fraction of vitrinite is between 60% and 70%,the flowability index is poor.There is no correlation between the flow ability and vitrinite when the volume fraction of vitrinite is between 83% and 90% because of too many influencing factors.Inertinite shows a positive correlation with the jet flow but a negative correlation with the flow ability.It is not correlative between mineral and the flow ability.