The annular fluidized bed combines a long solids residence time and a good heat and mass transfer. To experimentally characterize the flow pattern in the system, pressure drop and capacitance probe measurements have been carried out under ambient conditions in two plants of inner diameters of 0.19 and 0.74 m. Depending on the interaction between gas velocity in the central jet and ratio of bubble to central nozzle diameter, the ratio of internal to external solids circulation can be regulated.