Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)The scope of this paper is to explore the benefits of both conventional operation design co-current and counter-current, to propose a new alternative design for fixed bed catalytic reactor. Steady state and dynamic behavior were considered in the analysis. Additionally for the steady state, a study on the possible alternatives for the patterns of cooling fluid was also realized, searching for an efficient refrigeration, as well as, minimum energy cost, for the fixed bed catalytic reactor. These new alternative designs consist of using the main advantages of both conventional configurations in an unique design. The results show that the proposed alternative design for fixed bed catalytic reactor has considerable advance compared to conventional system.o TEXTO COMPLETO DESTE ARTIGO, ESTARÁ DISPONÍVEL À PARTIR DE AGOSTO DE 2015.2Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)