AbstractThe successful design and operation of a gas‐liquid‐solid fluidized‐bed system depend on the ability to accurately predict the fundamental properties of the system, specifically, the hydrodynamics, the mixing of individual phases, and the heat and mass transfer properties. Identification of the flow regimes under which the system operates is crucial to an understanding of both the variations of these properties and overall system performance. This timely, comprehensive review describes in a systematic manner the status of fundamental gas‐liquid‐solid fluidization behavior. This review also discusses the areas in which current knowledge is deficient and further research