Abstract: The dimensionless method of Ergun’s equation was used to investigate the flow regime of the gas flow through the sinter bed layer. The effects of the gas superficial velocity， sinter particle diameter and the bed layer voidage on the gas pressure drop in the sinter bed layer were studied， and the change law of particle Reynolds number with the changing of particle diameter was also discussed. The results showed that the pressure drop per unit bed layer height in the sinter bed layer increased as a quadratic relationship with the increase of the gas superficial velocity for a given particle diameter. For a given gas superficial velocity， the pressure drop per unit bed layer height decreased as an exponential relationship with the increase of particle diameter and voidage. The critical particle Reynolds number in the sinter bed layer decreased as an exponential relationship with the increase of the bed layer geometrical factor， and the mean calculation deviation of the experimental prediction formula for critical particle Reynolds number was within 5%， showing a good prediction by using the method.

Key words: sinter, packed bed, pressure drop, flow regime, critical particle Reynolds number