The present study was performed to clarify the operational range for vibro-fluidization of fine cohesive particles (glass beads, d(p) = 6 mu m). Decreasing and increasing gas velocity methods were examined to clarify the favorable vibro-fluidization region. The upper limit of the gas velocity for intermittent channel breakage was higher in the case of the increasing gas velocity method than the decreasing gas velocity method. This was because the changes in the bed flow pattern from a favorable (intermittent channel breakage) to an unfavorable fluidization state (stable channels) were moderate in the case of the increasing gas velocity method. In the increasing gas velocity method, two kinds of cross-points were obtained from the relationship between the gas velocity and the bed pressure drop. At one of the gas velocities at these cross-points, the bed void fraction reached its maximum. In the present study, the above-mentioned gas velocity was defined as the upper limit of gas velocity for favorable vibro-fluidization, U,h.. A favorable vibro-fluidization region was determined by combining u(chu) with u(chl), which is the lower limit of gas velocity for intermittent channel breakage obtained in a previous study. The value Of U,h,, was found to have a maximum corresponding to a certain vibration strength. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.