This paper examines the modelling of hindered settling separation in a centrifugal fluidized bed. A mathematical model based upon the macroscopic continuum conservation law and dynamic discrete particle velocity equation has been developed to simulate polydisperse particle separation in a centrifugal hindered-setting bed. An explicit finite difference method was used to discretise the partial difference equation and combined hindered settling velocity to solve the equation. A c++ program was developed to carry out iterative computations with special shock front interface treatment for initialization and boundary conditions. The simulated values from this dynamic model showed good agreement with the results of a centrifugal fluidized bed separator at different fluidization water flow rates and centrifugal forces. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.