Fossil energy research, development, and demonstration strategy is to develop a wide variety of coal utilization techniques that are clean, efficient and conserve resources. Industry can then choose promising processes which will eventually be commercialized and will therefore provide the energy needed for our continued economic growth and well being. The many processes and techniques of coal conversion have as a basic concept the transmutation of coal into forms acceptable to our transportation and heating equipment. The Loop Fluidized Bed (LFB) based on the fast fluidization concept is a novel method for effecting efficient solid-gas contact and can play an important role in coal combustion. It can be operated under pressure making it eminently suited for the production of high temperature gas from coal for operating gas turbines for power generation. The LFB can operate over a wide range of gas flow rates and coal can be introduced at various points without excessive pressure drops. Further, it is possible to capture higher amounts of sulfur dioxide due to the use of fine dolomite or limestone particles. This process can also be used for the smelting of mineral ores. However, the LFB concept is relatively new and data in the literature are scarce.