The flow pattern of a fluidized bed is a key factor for heat transfer and new reactor design.The flow pattern of the gas-solid fluidized bed was experimentally measured by a novel acoustic emission（AE） technique.The acoustic energy generated by the collision of solids particles on the reactor wall or in the local space is a reflection of the speed and frequency of collision

and consequently the flow pattern of particles.The flow pattern of polyethylene particles with the average size 460 μm in a φ 150 mm fluidized bed in the range of superficial gas velocity from 0.3 m·s-1 to 0.7 m·s-1 was multi-circulation pattern with main-circulation zone

sub-circulation zone and stagnant zone.The multi-circulation flow pattern would transit to the single circulation flow pattern if superficial gas velocity exceeded 0.8 m·s-1 or average particle size decreased to below 365 μm.The height of stagnant zone remained unchanged with the increase of static bed height.It was also found that the type of the distributor had an evident effect on flow pattern.The single circulation flow pattern in the fluidized bed with a perforated stainless steel plate distributor would change to the multi-circulation flow pattern for the same particles and the same fluidized bed with a cone-shaped distributor.An empirical equation calculating the height of stagnant zone was presented and the experimental data could be correlated with the empirical equation with fairly good accuracy.