A study has been completed to assess the potential application of coal-fired fluidized-bed combustion technology to petroleum plant process heaters. The study concentrated on those issues peculiar to process heaters which were not being investigated by the many boiler oriented programs being pursued by others. Experimental phases of the program investigated heat transfer and fluidization characteristics when an array of large diameter tubes (up to 6'') were immersed in a fluidized bed of limestone. A range of tube configurations and bed compositions were evaluated. Other tests investigated the process variables affecting hydrocarbon coking in tubes exposed to the high heat flux environment of a fluidized bed. Program generated data were tested and validated in a 12 MBtu/hr coal fired FBC test combustor where both heat transfer data and unit response to process changes were demonstrated. An assessment was made of potential application opportunities in typical petroleum refineries. Finally, a matrix of commercial sized heater designs was prepared to evaluate the impact of changes in size and service requirements on heater costs and physical configuration. The study results fully support the technical feasibility of FBC process heaters but suggest that nontechnical issues such as sitting and logistics problems associated with handling solid fuels and wastes within widely dispersed and normally congested process areas may limit near term applications. Alternatives that would directionally improve application opportunities are identified.