In the last decade, cocurrent downflow circulating fluidized bed reactors, called "downer" reactors, have been proposed as an alternative to upflow circulating fluidized bed, or "riser", reactors. In this paper, published results on downer studies are summarized and future directions of research are recommended. Downer reactors are shown to have several distinct advantages over upflow circulating fluidized bed reactors and can potentially be used in many industrial processes, mainly due to a more uniform gas and solids flow structure compared with risers.