Recent advances in assisted fluidization — external perturbations and high-g operation

We summarize advances in technologies that assist fluidization of cohesive gas–solid mixtures over a broad range of interfacial velocities. Periodic external forcing, through oscillatory gas flow, vibration, acoustics, or other force fields, can reduce apparent cohesion and lower the minimum fluidization velocity. This enables low-stress, low-velocity fluidization with reduced gas demand for drying, adsorption, and other processes requiring enhanced heat or mass transfer. When external heat or mass transfer resistance dominates over intrinsic kinetics and intraparticle transport, centrifugal fluidization can boost overall transport at very high interfacial velocities, which enables short gas–solid contact, enhancing selectivity, for example, in oxidative coupling of methane. This article surveys progress in assisted fluidization methods. It discusses advances in regime mapping, structured flow control, predictive modeling, and scale-up strategies. Remaining challenges include robustness, control, and moving beyond ad hoc design. We advocate transferable operating guidelines, hybrid assisted units, and data-assisted design frameworks to improve economic viability.