In a cross-flow moving bed, the gas-solid cross-flow pattern facilitates the high gas process capacity for a relatively low pressure drop, while the appearance of the abnormal phenomena of cavity, pinning and air lock reduces the bed operating flexibility. A new structural optimization of a gas-solid baffle is proposed. Relevant equations for evaluating these three phenomena are theoretically derived or summarized in the original bed and the bed with a gas-solid baffle. Based on experimental and theoretical data, with the proposed structural optimization, the cavity and pinning are weakened in rectangular and radial beds and the air lock can be easily controlled by increasing the height and diameter of the feed tube. The preferred location of the gas-solid baffle is the middle position (x/L = 0.5) of the rectangular bed and/or the position (r-r(1))/(r(2)-r(1)) < 0.5 of the radial bed with different gas superficial velocities, particle diameters and bed voidages. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.