Abstract: A diffuser for a coal burner has a coal nozzle with an axis and an inner surface. The diffuser comprises a reducing area cone which has tapering upstream and downstream ends, for positioning in a coal nozzle at the coal nozzle axis. A frusto-conical shroud has a small diameter upstream end and a large diameter downstream end, positioned around the reducing area cone. A plurality of support legs is connected to the reducing area cone and extends radially outwardly through the shroud for connecting to the coal nozzle. Each of the support legs is inclined at an acute angle to the axis of the coal nozzle for evenly spreading pulverized coal supplied through the coal nozzle and past the diffuser.