Abstract The original Zhou Tao’s agglomerate-force balance model was modified with the bubble size of the fluidized beds with cohesive particles. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of gas and cohesive solids flows were carried out using the modified agglomerate-force balance model in two and three dimensional conditions, respectively. The simulated results agreed approximately with experimental data, while a few discrepancies existing at the top of bed were due to that the present model did not take the back-mixing effect into account. The computed agglomerates sizes decreased with increasing of bed height or gas velocity, and the cross-sectional distribution of solids axial velocity and solids holdup were found to be just contrary to each other. According to the velocity vectors of agglomerates, the solid particles in the center and wall fell down, while the particles in both sides rose up, and two core-annular flows existed in the bed, which could be also observed experimentally.
