A moving bed regenerator concept is introduced to the regeneration of HZSM-5 catalyst in the methanol to propylene process. A coke combustion kinetic model has been obtained by considering the effect of coke content and oxygen pressure. Then a moving bed regenerator model is proposed, implying a radial cross flow between catalyst and regeneration gas. An industrial scale regeneration process has also been investigated. A "reversal phenomena" has been observed both in the temperature and coke distribution in the regenerator. A multi zone and a flow direction changing operation mode have been advanced thus making the whole regeneration process more effective. (C) 2017 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.