The present invention relates to a fluid distributing device for distributing fluid into a column and to a fluid collecting device for collecting fluid from a column. The invention relates also to methods of using the devices of the present invention. The distributing device and/or the collecting device of the present invention can be used in fixed or fluidized bed reactors or columns, such as chromatographic separation columns, ion exchange columns, adsorption columns etc. A fluid distributing device comprises

a) a first fluid conveying system; and

b) a distributing plate, which comprises

i) first means for fluid transfer for dividing the fluid flow coming from the delivering points into several partial fluid flows and for distributing the partial fluid flows into the column; and

ii) first means for controlling of the partial fluid flows by differential pressure in the first means for fluid transfer.