The industrial fixed- bed reactor for acetoxidation of ethylene was math- ematical-ly simulated by pseudo- homogeneous one- dimensional and two- dimensional reactor models. The results showed that the gas temperature at the entrance of the reactor was close to the temperature of hot - spot

and that the activity of catalyst and productivity of reactor could be further increased. But

thermal runaway for a normal reactor may occur when the activity of catalyst was three times that of the present catalyst. The optimal distribution of a high active catalyst multiple- sectionally loaded in the reactor may greatly reduce the sensitivity of heat and may improve the conversion and selectivity of the reaction. For example

if a catalyst with mean activity two times that of the present catalyst was loaded in the reactor in two sections to replace the normal reactor loaded in one-section of catalyst

the temperature of hot-spot may be reduced by 13. 9℃

and the conversion of ethylene and the selectivity of vinyl acetate from ethylene may be increased by 1. 46% and by 1. 41% respectively.