AbstractA new three‐phase reactor configuration having countercurrent flow of gas and liquid is proposed. The reactor had an internal diameter of 0.04 m and a catalyst bed height of 1 m. A spiral coil made out of wire gauge was inserted inside the fixed bed of catalyst. The gas preferentially passed through the void spaces created due to the presence of the coil. Hydrodynamic studies were conducted using water as liquid and air as gas. The effect of various parameters such as the configuration of the spiral coil, flow rate of gas and liquid on the pressure drop and liquid hold up of the catalyst bed were studied and were also compared with that of a conventional trickle bed reactor.