ORIFICE M ETER

Orifice meter is a type of flow meter device which is used to determine

the rate of flow through pipe made by inserting drilled orifice plate between two
pipe flanges and arranging suitable pressure connection. Orifice meter also
works on the same principle as that of Venturi meter.
Parts of an Orifice M eter
The components of a typical orifice meter are orifice plate, manometer
and flange or carrier ring.

1. Orifice Plate are metal plates having an equal diameter of

the pipeline with a drilled hole in it which reduces the
volumetric flow rate to reduce the pressure
2. M anometer an instrument measuring the pressure
between the inlet and the outlet section of an orifice.
3. Flange/Carrier Ring used for orifice meters for the
purpose of holding the orifice plate
Beta Ratio

The effective use of the orifice meters depends on the orifice plate to be
used, its configuration and construction. Orifice are usually made of mild ste el,
stainless steel, and phosphor bronze. One of the general considerations in
designing an orifice plate is the Beta Ratio.
Beta Ratio is the ratio between the orifice diameter and pipe diameter.
The flow coefficient is found to be stable between beta ratios of 0.2 to 0.7

Beta Ratio
1. Higher Beta Ratio

It will display low pressure difference

The pressure difference is hard to measure

It will require longer pipe length

2. Lower Beta Ratio

Pressure loss will be higher

This may require higher size of the pump

It has higher cost required due to frictional loss

Operation of an Orifice M eter

1. The fluid having uniform cross section of flow converges into the orifice
plates opening in its upstream. Pressure is considered maximum in this
section before the orifice plate.
2. When the fluid comes out of the orifice plates opening, its cross section
is minimum and uniform for a particular distance and then the cross
section of the fluid starts diverging in the downstream.

When the fluid comes out of the orifice opening, its pressure is
minimum and this minimum pressure remains constant in the
minimum cross section area of fluid flow at the downstream.

The minimum cross sectional area of the fluid obtained at

downstream from the orifice edge is called vena-contracta.

Application of Orifice M eter

1. The concentric orifice plate is used to measure flow rates of pure fluids
and has a wide applicability as it has been standardized. The beta ratios
of concentric orifice plates range from 0.25 to 0.75.
2. The eccentric and segmental orifice plates are used to measure flow rates
of fluids containing suspended materials such as solids, oil mixed with
water and wet steam.

Eccentric orifice plates are typically used for dirty liquids/gases

Segmental orifice plates are used for heavy fluids, in preference to

eccentric orifice plates, because it allows more drainage around the
circumference of the pipe.

Design of Orifice Plate

Advantages of Orifice M eter
1. It is very cheap and easy method to measure flow rate.
2. It has predictable characteristics and occupies less space.
3. Can be used to measure flow rates in large pipes.
Disadvantages of Orifice M eter
1. The vena-contracta length depends on the roughness of the inner wall of
the pipe and sharpness of the orifice plate. In certain cases it becomes
difficult to tap the minimum pressure due to the above factor.
2. Pressure recovery at downstream is poor.
3. It gets clogged when the suspended fluids flow
4. The orifice plate gets corroded and due to this after sometime, inaccuracy
occurs.
Calculations on Orifice M eter
The equation for the orifice meter is similar to venturi meter. To derive
the equation for the orifice meter, friction is neglected and the pipe is assumed
to be horizontal,

12 1 22 2
+ =
+
2

Considering the continuity equation for constant p,

12
22
1
= 2
4
4
2 =

1 12
22

Substituting 2 in the first equation, then multiply a factor 0 (friction loss

factor in orifice),
2

1 12
)
12 1
2
22
+
=
+
2

12 1 12 14

+ =
( 4) + 2
2

2 2

1 2 12 14

=
( 1)

2 24
2(1 2 )
= 12
14
( 4 1)
2
Therefore the equation for the orifice,

where:

1 is the velocity in the orifice (m/s, ft/s)

0 is the orifice coefficient (dimensionless)

is the pressure drop (Pa, lbf/in 2)

1 is the orifice diameter (mm, m, ft, in)

2 is the pipe diameter (mm, m, ft, in)

Note: If the at the orifice is above 20000 and 1/2 is less than about 0.5,
the value of 0 is approximately constant and has the value 0.61

Variation of discharge coefficient with Reynolds Number for sha rp-edged orifices