Abstract <p>A combined experimental and computational research on the influence of plasma torch geometry on the thermophysical parameters of combustion of brown coal from the Transbaikal Krai has been carried out. It has been shown that the torch shape in direct-flow and vortex plasmatrons sets a law of adding a tempering coal−air mixture to the high-temperature zone. Based on a developed analytical model that takes into account the torch geometry and the kinetics of thermodynamic transformations, the quantitative dependences of the gas phase temperature and degree of carbon gasification on flow swirl parameters and pulverized coal concentration have been derived. It has been shown experimentally that the vortex plasmatron, which forms a cardioid torch with a developed contact surface, makes it possible to achieve stable burning at a carbon dust concentration of 0.6 kg/kg and a power of 120 kW. Under such conditions, the degree of carbon drop increases by 20–25% compared with the direct-flow design at a comparable power consumption. Presented results may serve as a basis for optimizing fuel plasma systems intended for low-grade coal burning.</p>