This paper presents a semi empirical single particle model for the description of heat transfer coefficient between a submerged surface and a fluidized bed. The model is applied to several experimental data and gives a satisfactory description of the effect of pressure, temperature and bed material properties on the heat transfer coefficient either in bubbling or slugging fluidized beds. The model considers the averaged surface void fraction as the only regression parameter for the description of experimental data. Surface void fraction results to be a function of Archimedes number and minimum fluidization bed voidage and its value is consistent with the numerical and experimental data reported in literature. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.