The　residue　curve　maps　are　considered　as　a　powerful　tool　for　the　preliminary　design　of　reactive　distillation.　The　residue　curve　maps　of　ethyl　acetate　synthesis　reaction　were　calculated　based　on　the　pseudo-homogeneous　rate-based　kinetic　model　and　the　NRTL　activity　coefficient　model.　The　results　show　that　the　unstable　node　branch　emerges　from　the　ethyl　acetate/water　edge,　moving　toward　the　chemical　equilibrium　surface　with　the　increase　of　Damköler　value　(D),　and　the　node　reaches　the　ternary　reactive　azeotrope　when　D→∞　eventually.　Conceptual　design　for　the　ethyl　acetate　synthesis　of　reactive　distillation　based　on　the　residue　curve　maps　is　presented　at　last.　©　2013　Central　South　University　Press　and　Springer-Verlag　Berlin　Heidelberg.