This study investigates the solids drying process in a gas-fluidized bed using Computational Fluid Dynamics - Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) simulations. The CFD-DEM model is validated against experimental data from De Munck et al. (2022), which used a lab-scale pseudo-2D fluidized bed setup with particle image velocimetry and infrared thermography to capture detailed information about local solids velocity and temperature fields. The model incorporates wall-to-bed heat exchange, which is a significant challenge due to the thin thermal boundary layer near the column walls. A finer overset grid is used to resolve this boundary layer, and a thermal image reconstruction technique is introduced to compare simulation results with experimental data. The study compares the CFD-DEM simulations with experimental data for three superficial gas velocities: 0.80 m/s, 0.96 m/s, and 1.12 m/s. The results show that the lowest gas velocity leads to a fixed bed configuration, while the higher gas velocities result in fluidized beds. The pressure drop over the bed, solids volume fluxes, particle temperatures, and particle densities are analyzed. The pressure drop decreases over time, and the solids volume fluxes show an altered fluidization regime due to the solids density reduction caused by liquid evaporation. The particle temperature and density distributions are also analyzed, revealing a clear connection between the bed hydrodynamics and the local density distribution. The CFD-DEM model captures the overall behavior observed in the experiments, but some discrepancies are noted, particularly in the lowest gas velocity case. The model is validated for fluidizing systems, where it accurately describes the local details. This study demonstrates the capabilities of the CFD-DEM model for studying fluidized bed drying and can be further utilized for process design and optimization.This study investigates the solids drying process in a gas-fluidized bed using Computational Fluid Dynamics - Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) simulations. The CFD-DEM model is validated against experimental data from De Munck et al. (2022), which used a lab-scale pseudo-2D fluidized bed setup with particle image velocimetry and infrared thermography to capture detailed information about local solids velocity and temperature fields. The model incorporates wall-to-bed heat exchange, which is a significant challenge due to the thin thermal boundary layer near the column walls. A finer overset grid is used to resolve this boundary layer, and a thermal image reconstruction technique is introduced to compare simulation results with experimental data. The study compares the CFD-DEM simulations with experimental data for three superficial gas velocities: 0.80 m/s, 0.96 m/s, and 1.12 m/s. The results show that the lowest gas velocity leads to a fixed bed configuration, while the higher gas velocities result in fluidized beds. The pressure drop over the bed, solids volume fluxes, particle temperatures, and particle densities are analyzed. The pressure drop decreases over time, and the solids volume fluxes show an altered fluidization regime due to the solids density reduction caused by liquid evaporation. The particle temperature and density distributions are also analyzed, revealing a clear connection between the bed hydrodynamics and the local density distribution. The CFD-DEM model captures the overall behavior observed in the experiments, but some discrepancies are noted, particularly in the lowest gas velocity case. The model is validated for fluidizing systems, where it accurately describes the local details. This study demonstrates the capabilities of the CFD-DEM model for studying fluidized bed drying and can be further utilized for process design and optimization.