The riser of a Circulating Fluidised Bed (CFB) is the key-component where gas-solid or gas-catalytic reactions occur. Both types of reactions require different conditions of operating velocities (U), solids circulation fluxes (G), overall hydrodynamics and residence times of solids and gas. The solids hydrodynamics and their residence time distribution in the riser are the focal points of this paper. The riser of a CFB can operate in different hydrodynamic regimes, each with a pronounced impact on the solids motion. These regimes are firstly reviewed to define their distinct characteristics as a function of the combined parameters, U and G. Experiments were carried out, using Positron Emission Particle Tracking of single radio-actively labelled tracer particles. Results on the particle velocity are assessed for operation in the different regimes. Design equations are proposed. The particle velocities and overall solids mixing are closely linked. The solid mixing has been previously studied by mostly tracer response techniques, and different approaches have been proposed. None of the previous approaches unambiguously fits the mixing patterns throughout the different operating regimes of the riser. The measured average particle velocity and the velocity distribution offer an alternative approach to determine the solids residence time distribution (RTD) for a given riser geometry. Findings are transformed into design equations. The overall approach is finally illustrated for a riser of known geometry and operating within the different hydrodynamic regimes. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.