An extended discrete cell model (DCM), based on minimization of energy dissipation rate, is applied to predict two-phase how distribution in the two-dimensional trickle-bed reactors. The main advantages of DCM are that it can qualitatively capture the experimental observations, and readily distinguish between flow distribution in prewetted and non-prewetted beds, as well as reflect the effects of bed structure and inlet liquid distributor on two phase flow distribution. For comparison purpose, the results of liquid distribution obtained by DCM are compared with both computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and experimental observations in a 2D bed. The achieved qualitative and quantitative agreement-justifies the use of DCM in predicting two phase how distribution in packed beds. A particle wetting factor (f) has been introduced into DCM to account for the influence of particle surface wetting on liquid flow distribution. Analysis of DCM simulations presented based on maldistribution factor (mf) provides a convenient way of quantifying the effects of particle surface wetting, distributor design and bed depth on the two-phase how field.