Calculation of Theoretical Orifice Flow and Cd for Sharp Edged Or

Inputs
Temperature 68 *Fahrenheit (allowable values 32 to 120)
Barometric Pressure 29.92 inches of Hg - Absolute pressure upstream of orifice
Orifice Diameter 2.585 Inches
Pipe Diameter 4 For no pipe, enter 8 or larger to simulate the flow bench
Test Depression 16 inches of water column

Outputs
Orifice Flow 400.1 "Calibrated" CFM
Cd 0.6202 Orifice Coefficient of Discharge

Constants Calculated Value

R= 287.05 Gas constant for dry air C=
cp = 29.07 Specific heat of pressure @ 0*C Dp=
cv= 20.7643 Specific heat of volume @0*C Q a=

e= 0.98785 expansibility factor Qm=

Q s=
r=
B=
Press "ctrl+m" to calculate Cd ReD=
Red=

w=
Km=
Vpipe=
Vthroat=
Apipe=
Athroat=
K=
T=
m=
D=
d=
P 1=
P2=
Sharp Edged Orifice

to 120)
upstream of orifice

imulate the flow bench settling chamber

Calculated Values
0.6202
4118 Pa
0.1888 m3/sec (actual volume flow)
0.2274 kg/sec (mass flow rate)
0.1888 m3/sec (standard volume flow)
1.2041 kg/m3
0.6463 keep between 0.1 and 0.75
176,498 Reynolds number of pipe
226,814 Reynolds number of orifice
0.5563 Static Pressure Loss
0.0017 Minor loss coefficient
23.2902 m/s
55.7662 m/s
0.0081 m2
0.0034 m2
1.40000 gas isentropic exponent @ 0*C
293.2 Ambient temp (*K)
1.6143E-05 gas dynamic viscosity
0.101600 pipe diameter (m)
0.065659 orifice diameter (m)
101325 Pa
97207 Pa
Cd = 0.5959 + 0.0312 β2.1 - 0.1840 β8 + 0.0029 β2.5(106/Re)0.75 + 0.0900(L1/D)[β4/(1 - β4)] - 0.0337(L2/D)β3

For Cd updates:
C= 0.62021
Dp= 4118.0
Qa= 0.1888
Qm= 0.2274
Qs= 0.1888
r= 1.2041
e= 0.9879
B= 0.6463
ReD= 176498
Red= 226814
w= 0.5563
Km= 0.0017
Vpipe= 23.2902
Vthroat= 55.7662
Apipe= 0.0081
Athroat= 0.0034
m= 0.0000
β4/(1 - β4)] - 0.0337(L2/D)β3
Types of Pressure Taps for Orifices:

Introduction
Orifice flow meters are used to determine a liquid or gas flow rate by measuring the differential pressure (P
Orifice meters are typically less expensive to install and manufacture than the other commonly used differential pressure flow
nozzle and venturi flow meters have the advantage of lower pressure drops.   Equations for orifice meters have the advantage
Number upper limit for validity.

An orifice flow meter is typically installed between flanges connecting two pipe sections (flanges are not shown in the above dr
The three standard pressure tapping arrangements are shown in the drawings; the location of the pressure taps affects the dis
somewhat.  Flange pressure taps penetrate the flange and are at a standard distance of 1 inch (2.54 cm) from either side of th
For corner taps or D and D/2 taps, the pressure tap locations are as shown.

Orifices are typically less than 0.05D thick.  For exact geometry and specifications for orifices, see ISO (1991) or ASME (1971
The ASME and ISO have been working on guidelines for orifices since the early 1900s.  The organizations have the most con
accuracy when the Reynolds number exceeds 105, though Reynolds numbers as low as 4x103 are valid for certain d/D ratios a
below.  The calculation above is for flow of gases.   For liquid flow through orifices, please visit our orifice calculations for liquid
< 5 cm or pipe diameter > 5 cm.  Gas flow calculations include an expansibility factor (e), which is not present in the liquid calc
expansibility factor accounts for the effect of pressure change on gas density as gas flows through the orifice.  LMNO Enginee
orifice calculation for gas flow in pipes less than 5 cm diameter.

Equations
The calculations on this page are for orifices carrying a gas as described in ISO (1991 and 1998).
Discharge Coefficient (ISO, 1998)

Corner Pressure Taps:  L1 = L'2 = 0

D and D/2 Pressure Taps:  L1 = D  and  L'2 = D/2
Flange Pressure Taps:  L1 = L'2 = 0.0254/D  where D is in meters

Variables:
Dimensions: F=Force, L=Length, M=Mass, T=Time, t=temperature
Validity and Discussion:
Discharge Coefficient:
For all types of pressure taps:  d >= 1.25 cm,  5 cm <= D <= 1 m,  0.1 <= d/D <= 0.75

For Corner Pressure Taps or D and D/2 Pressure Taps:

     ReD >= 4000  for  0.1 <= d/D <= 0.5   and  ReD >= 16,000(d/D )2  for  d/D>0.5

For Flange Pressure Taps:  ReD >= 4000  and  ReD >= 170,000 D (d/D )2  where D is in meters

The calculation does not provide results if these values are out of range.

Expansibility:
The equation shown above for expansibility, e, is valid for P2/P1 >= 0.75.  Our calculation gives a warning message if 

If you know that your density, viscosity, or isentropic exponent is significantly different than the value shown in the calculation,
select "User enters P1, density, viscosity, K" and enter these values manually.  Also, if the gas is not listed in our drop-down m
can select "User enters P1, density, viscosity, K" and enter these values manually.  K must be > 1.  Additionally, values for K c
Weast (1985, p. F-11), Perry and Green (1984, p. 3-144), and other sources.

Pressure Loss:
w is the static pressure loss occurring from a distance of approximately D upstream of the orifice to a distance of approximatel
downstream of the orifice.  It is not the same as differential pressure.  Differential pressure is measured at the exact locations
ISO (1991) (shown in the above figures).

Minor Loss Coefficient:

Km is computed to allow you to design pipe systems with orifices and incorporate their head loss.  Head loss is computed as

Standard Volumetric Flow Rate:

Standard volumetric flow rate, Qs, is the volumetric flow rate computed at standard pressure and temperature, Pstd and Tstd (
in variables).  Actual flow rate, Qa, is computed at the gas's actual pressure and temperature.  Qs is useful to users who need
(or input) standard flow rate; often pump curves and flow measurement devices provide standard, rather than actual, flow rate
using standard flow instead of actual flow is that the same device (or pump curve) can be used for a gas at various temperatur
without re-calibrating for an infinite range of actual pressures and temperatures.  The user can easily convert standard to actu
actual temperature and pressure of the gas are known; our calculation does this automatically.
 Info courtesy of:
http://www.flowmeterdirectory.com/flowmeter_orifice_calc.html

ial pressure (P1 - P2) across the orifice plate. 

nly used differential pressure flow meters; however,
orifice meters have the advantage of no Reynolds

ges are not shown in the above drawings). 

of the pressure taps affects the discharge coefficient
nch (2.54 cm) from either side of the orifice. 

s, see ISO (1991) or ASME (1971). 

e organizations have the most confidence in orifice
103 are valid for certain d/D ratios as discussed
sit our orifice calculations for liquids: Pipe diameter
ich is not present in the liquid calculation.  The
hrough the orifice.  LMNO Engineering also has an
D and D/2 pressure taps are used in the accompanying calculator

101.5594
 es a warning message if  P2/P1 < 0.75, but still computes answers.

he value shown in the calculation, then you can

as is not listed in our drop-down menu, then you
be > 1.  Additionally, values for K can be found in

rifice to a distance of approximately 6D

s measured at the exact locations specified in

loss.  Head loss is computed as h=KmV2pipe/2g.

e and temperature, Pstd and Tstd (shown above

e.  Qs is useful to users who need to compute
ndard, rather than actual, flow rate.  The advantage of
ed for a gas at various temperatures and pressures
an easily convert standard to actual flow rate if the
Determination of Orifice Discharge Coefficient
ISO 5167 provides an equation (given below) for the orifice discharge coefficient, Cd, as a function of β (d
1 and L2, where L1 is the distance of the upstream pressure tap from the orifice plate and L2 is the distan
pressure tap from the orifice plate. As shown in the figure above L1 = L2 = 0 for corner taps; L1 = L2 = 1"
L1 = D & L2 = D/2 for D-D/2 taps. The equation for the orifice discharge coefficient is:

Cd - 0.5959 + 0.0312 β2.1 - 0.1840 β8 + 0.0029 β2.5(106/Re)0.75 + 0.0900(L1/D)[β4/(1 - β4)] - 0.0337(L2/D)β3

This equation can be used to find the orifice discharge coefficient for an orifice flow meter with any of the
tap configurations, but not for any other arbitrary values of L1 and L2. The introduction of standard pressu
and the equation for Cd, allows a given orifice flow meter to conveniently use different size orifice opening
measurement range.
d, as a function of β (d/D), Reynolds number (Re), L
e and L2 is the distance of the downstream
ner taps; L1 = L2 = 1" for flange taps; and

4
)] - 0.0337(L2/D)β3

meter with any of the three standard pressure

on of standard pressure tap configurations
nt size orifice openings and cover a wide flow
*F m
32 1.7326116E-05
33 1.7290928E-05
34 1.7255885E-05
35 1.7220980E-05
36 1.7186218E-05
37 1.7151599E-05
38 1.7117114E-05
39 1.7082770E-05
40 1.7048564E-05
41 1.7014494E-05
42 1.6980560E-05
43 1.6946760E-05
44 1.6913098E-05
45 1.6879567E-05
46 1.6846168E-05
47 1.6812900E-05
48 1.6779764E-05
49 1.6746759E-05
50 1.6713884E-05
51 1.6681140E-05
52 1.6648519E-05
53 1.6616030E-05
54 1.6583663E-05
55 1.6551427E-05
56 1.6519310E-05
57 1.6487322E-05
58 1.6455455E-05
59 1.6423714E-05
60 1.6392094E-05
61 1.6360593E-05
62 1.6329215E-05
63 1.6297958E-05
64 1.6266820E-05
65 1.6235797E-05
66 1.6204898E-05
67 1.6174112E-05
68 1.6143445E-05
69 1.6112894E-05
70 1.6082457E-05
71 1.6052136E-05
72 1.6021930E-05
73 1.5991836E-05
74 1.5961854E-05
75 1.5931986E-05
76 1.5902227E-05
77 1.5872582E-05
 78 1.5843047E-05
79 1.5813619E-05
80 1.5784302E-05
81 1.5755095E-05
82 1.5725995E-05
83 1.5697000E-05
84 1.5668114E-05
85 1.5639333E-05
86 1.5610658E-05
87 1.5582089E-05
88 1.5553624E-05
89 1.5525262E-05
90 1.5497002E-05
91 1.5468848E-05
92 1.5440792E-05
93 1.5412841E-05
94 1.5384989E-05
95 1.5357238E-05
96 1.5329590E-05
97 1.5302037E-05
98 1.5274583E-05
99 1.5247229E-05
100 1.5219974E-05
101 1.5192814E-05
102 1.5165752E-05
103 1.5138785E-05
104 1.5111915E-05
105 1.5085141E-05
106 1.5058459E-05
107 1.5031874E-05
108 1.5005381E-05
109 1.4978982E-05
110 1.4952675E-05
111 1.4926460E-05
112 1.4900337E-05
113 1.4874306E-05
114 1.4848366E-05
115 1.4822515E-05
116 1.4796755E-05
117 1.4771083E-05
118 1.4771083E-05
119 1.4720008E-05
120 1.4694603E-05