On the basis of the benchmark modeling exercise at Fluidization VIII, predi
cting riser hydrodynamics continues to be more of an art than a science. Te
n different hydrodynamic models were compared with a set of experimental da
ta that covered a wide range of operating conditions and showed reasonable
to poor overall agreement. Herein, we describe the model that gave the best
overall agreement with: the experimental data. Density is calculated by a
correlation based on slip factor, and the radial voidage profile depends so
lely on the cross-sectional average void fraction. Both the gas and velocit
y profile follows a power law type expression; the gas velocity at the wall
is zero. The model predictions agree well with experiments conducted with
sand but not as well as those conducted with fluidized catalytic cracking c
atalyst.