Gas Orifice Plate Calculations

Determine an orifice plate diameter for the following conditions:

Gas flowing temperature, F = 100

Gas flowing pressure, psig = 1000
Gas specific gravity = 0.65
Gas flow rate, MMSCFD = 10
H2S and CO2 are not present
Base pressure, psia = 14.73
Base temperature, F = 60

The meter run will be installed at the base of a glycol contactor, where the piping will include two ell

Assumptions:

Flange taps are required

Carbon steel flange material and 316 stainless steel orifice plate will be acceptable
Ratio of specific heats Cp/Cv = 1.3
Bellows type manometer will be used
Static pressure tap will be located up stream
hw, Differential pressure, in water column= 100
Pipeline ID, in = 4.03

Refer to AGA Report No. 3 (ANSI STD 2530) for specific details on gas flow orifice calculations.

The basic equation specified by AGA 3 (ANSI STD 2530) is:

The orifice flow constant is calculated by the following equation:

The values of the various correction factors are dependent on the orifice configuration, pressure tap
To simplify this analysis, only concentric round orifices are considered.
This is the most common and accepted configuration for accurate flow measurements.
AGA 3 includes all these correction factors in tabular form; refer to these tables as required.

Assume orifice diameter d, in = 2.25

diameter ratio β = d/D = 0.56

Then:
1089.9
1
1
1.01
1
0.96
1.24
1.06

So:
C' = 1391.56
Qh, SCFH = ###
Qh, MMSCFD = 10.64

Therefore, the orifice size of 2.25 in is acceptable for the given flow rate

Liquid Orifice Plate Calculations

Check an orifice plate sized for water service as follows:

Flowing Pressure, psia = 39.7

Flowing Temperature, F = 80
D, Line Size, in = 4
Normal flow rate, gpm = 150
hw, Orifice Pressure Drop, in H2O = 50
d, Orifice Bore, in = 2.63
diameter ratio β = d/D = 0.66

Make the same basic assumptions as in the example above

The accepted industry standard used for liquid flow metering is L.K. Spink's Plant Equation, which is:
 0.3
1
1
1
50
4
1

This equation can be used with the following provisions:

The Reynolds number through the orifice is greater than 10,000

The factor S corrects for the coefficient of discharge.
The viscosity of the liquid does not exceed the limits shown in Figure B-2239, p. 140 of Spink's Handbook

Qm, gpm = 189.14

 the piping will include two ells in different planes.

e acceptable

flow orifice calculations.

e configuration, pressure tap location, and operating conditions.

measurements.
se tables as required.

ink's Plant Equation, which is:

140 of Spink's Handbook