TECHNICAL INFORMATION SHEET-33

ORIFICE PLATES
Principle of Operation
Orifice plates are the most common type of differential pressure or p meter and are
basically a machined metal plate with a hole. The plate has a sharp upstream edge and
usually a bevelled edge downstream of the flow. To allow the differential pressure to be
measured, a set of pressure tappings are located on pipework upstream and downstream of
the plate.












When fluid passes through the hole of an orifice plate the pressure drops suddenly. The
flow continues to contract and converges downstream of the plate with the point of maximum
convergence (or minimum area) called the vena contracta. The fluid then expands and re-
attaches to the pipe wall and the velocity profile approaches that before the constriction.
There is a relatively large net pressure loss across the orifice plate which is not recovered;
this should be taken into account in choosing a meter as orifice plates are not suitable for
applications where a large pressure drop is undesirable.
Orifice plates are very sensitive to the velocity profile of the flow. If for example, the velocity
profile is asymmetrical or skewed this does affect the flow measurement. There are
specified requirements for using orifice plates which are detailed in the standard (ISO 5167-
2) for their use in dry gas and liquids.


Plate thickness, E
Downstream face, B
Upstream face A
Bevel angle, F
Pipe axis
Direction of Flow
Orifice thickness, e
P
i
p
e

d
i
a
m
e
t
e
r
,

D
Pipe internal
bore
O
r
i
f
i
c
e

d
i
a
m
e
t
e
r
,

d
Orifice plate
Pipe

Effect of using Different Values of Beta

D
d
=

The effects of using larger values of beta include:
An increase in the discharge coefficient uncertainty
A lower differential pressure being measured across the orifice plate (and this can be
more difficult to measure)
Longer lengths of upstream straight pipe being required to ensure the velocity profile
of flow through the orifice plate is stable and symmetrical
Flow profile of the flow through the orifice being more affected by the roughness of
the pipe walls
Advantages of Orifice Plates
Low cost
Ease of installation
Availability of comprehensive standard (ISO 5167-2)
No requirement for calibration - value of the discharge coefficient from the standard
Availability of different designs available, e.g. for viscous fluids, bi-directional flows,
suspended solids
Disadvantages of Orifice Plates

Low turndown (can be improved with dual range p cells)
High pressure loss (35 to almost 100% of measured p depending on beta)
Errors due to erosion/damage to upstream edges
Errors due to high sensitivity to upstream installation (especially large beta devices)

















NEL provides a wide range of independent consultancy, R&D, testing and calibration
services in a range of areas including fluid flow measurement, thermal engineering
and low carbon technologies. Please contact us at:
Tel: +44 (0)1355 593870 Email: nmshelp@tuvnel.com
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TUV SUD NEL Ltd 2011