<p>The cyclic distillation column, operating in the separate phase motion (SPM) mode, has gained significant attention in distillation technology. The Maleta tray has been specifically designed for cyclic operations and successfully applied in industrial plants. This study used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to investigate the fluid mechanics performance of the Maleta tray based on a minimal unit model. The gas–liquid contact state and fluid dynamic performance indicators, such as dry–wet pressure drop were analyzed under different structure parameters, such as the strip angle (<i>θ</i>) and circular orifices opening ratio (<i>Φ</i>). Based on the simulations, a mathematical model was developed to describe the relationship between wet pressure drop, liquid layer height <i>H</i>, and the gas load factor <i>F</i>_s, and the effective operating range for the tray under various conditions was also identified. It was indicated the optimal performance could be achieved at <i>θ</i> = 30° and <i>Φ</i><b> = </b>8.43% for the Maleta tray. This study can provide theoretical guidance for the design of column internals in cyclic distillation.</p>