In　order　to　address　the　uneven　flow　velocity　of　catalytic　reactors　and　to　solve　problems　such　as　wear　and　soaring　temperatures　in　catalysts,　a　three-dimensional　mathematical　model　of　a　catalytic　reactor　was　established.　A　comparison　of　the　physical　model　and　the　simulation　results　revealed　that　the　experimental　results　were　a　good　fit　to　the　mathematic　model.　The　optimization　results　revealed　the　following:　advantageous　placement　of　the　catalyst　was　12.5-17.5　mm　from　the　optimization　site;　the　cross　plate　+　porous　plate　was　preferential;　and　the　area-weighted　uniformity　index　reached　0.93.　When　the　catalyst　was　placed　25-30　mm　from　the　optimization　site,　the　cross　plate　+　strip　plate　+　hole　or　cross　+　grid　+　plate　was　preferential　and　the　area-weighted　uniformity　index　reached　0.93.　(C)　2020　Institution　of　Chemical　Engineers.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.