Flow Measurement with

Orifice Meters

Agenda

Fundamentals of Orifice Measurement

Review of Mechanical Products

Product Application

Conclusion

Background

General concept of orifice metering has been

around for centuries.

Orifice measurement is one of the most widely

used forms of measurement today.

In 1797 Giovanni Venturi performed the first

work using orifices in fluid flow measurement.
Category measure with diffrensial pressure

Background

This type of device causes a flow restriction in the

line
1890 Professor Robinson of Ohio State University
designed the first orifice meter
Between 1924 and 1935 research & experimental
work was conducted by the American Gas
Association (AGA) / American Society of Mechanical
Engineers(ASME)
AGA & ASME Developed Orifice Meter Coefficients
& Standards

Definition Of An Orifice Meter

Primary Device That Creates A Differential

Pressure (Differential Pressure Producer)

Secondary Element Measures The Differential

Many Different Devices Create Differential

Sharp Square-Edge Orifice Plate

Venturi Tube
Flow Nozzle
Elbow

Flow Profile

Orifice Meter Measurement

Advantages

Flow Can Be Accurately Determined Without A

Calibration
Simple To Operate
Years Of Reliable Operation
Requires Minimum Service
Widely Accepted
Relatively Inexpensive
No Moving Parts

Orifice Meter Measurement

Meter Accuracy

Reliability (Uncertainty/Accuracy)
Flange Tap Coefficient @ 0.2 & 0.7 Beta Has
Uncertainty of 0.5%
Minimum Uncertainty Occurs Between 0.5 & 0.6
Beta
Beta is Orifice Bore (d) Divided by Pipe ID (D)

Orifice Meter Measurement

Meter Accuracy Continued

Rangeability

Often Referred to as Turn Down Ratio

Flow Range of 300,000 SCFH to 100,000 SCFH Would Be
3 to 1
0.25% with Flow Calibration
Typical System Accuracy for Orifice Installation .6 to .7 %

Repeatability

Is the ability of a Flow Meter to indicate the same reading

each time, using identical flowing Conditions

Pressure Tap Locations

Flange Taps

Most widely used

Most accurate
1 upstream & 1 downstream from face of plate

Pipe Taps

1/2D upstream & 8D downstream

Permit installation of the orifice in an existing
flange
Pressure tap holes should be smooth and free of
rough edges

Pressure Tap Locations

Radius Taps

1D upstream & 1/2D downstream from the face

of orifice plate

Corner Taps

Used on pipe sizes less than 2

Located directly at the face of the orifice plates

Orifice Measurement Standards

AGA Report # 3
AGA Report # 8
API 14.3
ISO 5167-1

Standards and Importance

AGA report #3 provides guidelines for

construction and installation of orifice
meters.
AGA report # 8 provides guidelines for
calculation of gas surpercompressibility
ISO 5167 provides guidelines for
construction, calculation and installation of
orifice meter in metric standard
Standards must be adhered to completely
in order to maintain accuracy.

Standards and Importance

ORIFICE GAS FLOW EQUATION

Qv= 218.527*Cd*Ev*Y1*(d)2[Tb/Pb]*[(Pf1*hw)/(Gr*Zf1*Tf1)0.5
Where
Cd = Orifice Plate Coeficient Of Discharge
d = Orifice Bore Diameter at flowing temperature
G = Real Gas Relative Density (Specific Gravity)
hw= Orifice differential pressure at 60 0F
Ev = Velocity of approach
Pb = Base Pressure psia
Pf1= Flowing pressure upstream tap psia
Qv = Standard flowing flow rate in SCFH
Tb = Base temperature deg R
Tf = Flowing temperature deg R
Y2 = Expansion factor downstream tap
Zb = Compressibility at base condition (Pb,Tb)
Zf = Compressibility at flowing condition (Pf, Tf)

Flow Calculations
Q C '

Orifice Metering
h

C ' F b F r YF pb F tb F tf F g F pv F a F1
Fb = basic orifice flow factor
Fr = Reynolds number factor
Y = Expansion factor
Fpb = Pressure base factor
Ftb = temperature base factor
Ftf = flowing temperature factor
Fg = specific gravity factor
Fpv = supercompressibility factor
Fa = orifice thermal expansion factor
F1 = location factor

BASIC THEORY

Empirical equation base on Clean, single

phase , homogeneous, and Newtonian
Coeficient of Discharge Cd = ratio between
actual flow to theoritical flow.
Reynold number = ratio of inertial force to
viscous force
Reynold number > 4000 for the Cd equation to
be valid

Orifice Plates

The most fundamental component of

orifice measurement.

Flat, circular, and held in line by a fitting or

flanges.

Two basic styles of Orifice Plates:

Catalog No. 500 Universal Size for use in

Orifice Fittings and Ring-Joint Plate Holders
Catalog No. 520 Paddle Type for use in
Orifice Flanges

Universal Orifice Plate

Paddle-Type Orifice Plate

Orifice Plates - Continued

AGA Report #3 Requirements:

Concentricity of the orifice bore

Edge Thickness
Plate Flatness
Plate Finish
Edge must be square and sharp, will not
reflect a beam of light

Orifice Plate Dimensions

Orifice Devices

Three Types

Orifice Flange Union - Dead Line Device

Single Chamber - Dead Line Device

Dual Chamber - Allows Plate Change Under

Line Pressure

Orifice Flange Unions

Features

Most Economical Means Of Measuring Flow

Line Sizes 1/2 - 60
150 - 2500 # ANSI
Standard 1/2 Flange Pressure Taps
Equipped with Jack Screw
Styles- Weldnek- Threaded- Slip-On
Bi-Directional Flow

Orifice Flange Unions

Disadvantages

Plate Change Requires Depressurizing

Plate Removal Requires Flange Spreading
Product Spillage Occurs In Liquid Service

Pressure Tap Location

Flange Taps

Most Widely Used

Most Accurate
1 U/S & 1 D/S From Face Of Plate

Orifice Flange Unions

Simplex Orifice Fitting

Advantages

1 1/2 - 8
Economical Measuring Device
Simple To Operate
ANSI 150 #- 2500 #
No Flanges To Spread Apart
Plate Removal without Spillage
Meets AGA 3, API 14.3, ISO 5167
Bi Directional Flow

Simplex Orifice Fitting

Junior Orifice Fitting

Advantages

Rack and Pinion is added to assist in lifting the plate

carrier for larger line sizes
10 to 42 in 150-600# ANSI and up to 2500# in
certain sizes
Designed For Large Volume Applications
Gathering System,Compressor Stations
City Gates, Power Plants
No Spillage In Liquid Service
Bi-Directional Flow

Junior Orifice Fitting

10

Junior Orifice Fitting

Disadvantages

Plate Change Requires Depressurizing The

Line Or Using Bypass Piping

Senior Orifice Fitting

Features

Proven Technology
Simple To Operate
Field Repairable
NACE Trim Available
Plate Removal Without De-Pressurizing the line
Extensive Product Range
Bi-Directional Flow

Senior Orifice Fitting

Senior Orifice Fitting

Senior Orifice Fitting

Senior Orifice Fitting

Senior Orifice Fitting

Senior Orifice Fitting

Senior Orifice Fitting

Orifice Plates Sealing Units

DSC
SSRC
TSC
MSC

&
&
&
&

DS
SSR
TS
MS

Dual Seal
Snap Seal Ring
Teflon Seal
Metal Seal

2 thru 8 sizes (New API 14.3)

DSC & DS Seal

Simplest & most popular

70-80 Shore Nitrile Synthetic Rubber

Optional Metallic-Oxide Coating

3DVS 12 or larger (80-90 shore)

Pressure ratings to ANSI 600#

Temperatures from -20 to 275 DegF

Also available in Viton

TSC & TS Teflon Seal

Used for corrosive & high

temperature service

Pressure ratings from 900# 2500# ANSI

Application - Diluted sulfuric

acid/nitric acid/liquid oxygen

Special compression lip helps

seal off the plate

Line sizes 2 - 18

MSC Metal Seal

Stainless or Cadmium-Plated
steel clip ring

Recommended for high

pressures and temperatures

Recessed groove with

compression leaf spring to
effect a seal

Temperature from 600 to 1200

DegF

SSR Snap Seal Ring

Designed where elastomer swelling

is a problem

Application such as Ethylene or

carbon dioxide

Two symmetrical metal rings each

having an O-Ring

Line sizes 2 - 16

Temperature ranges from -67 - 437

Deg F (Viton O-Ring)

Available in 316SS and CadmiumPlated mild steel

Meter Tubes

Consists Of Upstream And Downstream

Pipe And A Fitting or Orifice Flange Union

AGA Report # 3 Requirements Include

Minimum Upstream And Downstream Lengths

Wall I.D. Smoothness, Roundness

Senior Meter Tube

Straightening Vanes

Bundle Of Small Tubes Placed Inside

Upstream Section

Flanged Or Line Type

Purpose

Remove Swirls From Flow

Shorten The Upstream Section

Straightening Vanes

Flow Conditioner
Generally a perforated plate
Removes or significantly reduces swirl
Designed to redistribute the velocity profile
to produce ideal flow conditions

Flow Conditioner Daniel Profiler

Flow Conditioner Daniel Profiler

Secondary Devices

Orifice fitting/plate is known as the primary

device

Secondary devices receive the raw

information

Then it's converted to a proportional signal electrical or pneumatic

Corrected volumes are then calculated

Secondary Devices

Types:
Transmitters - DP, P, & T
Flow Computers
Chart Recorders

METERING SYSTEM

Metering System Components

Applications
Configuration
Instrumentation
System functionality

What is a Measurement Station?

Meters selected for application

Measurement instruments
Hardware
Software
Integrated system

ORIFICE METERING SKID

MECHANICAL PIPING & SKID

Piping Standard & Code

ANSI B31.3 or B31.8
ASME

Skid Standard
AWS
AISC

Material
Carbon Steel ASTM A104/API 5L
Alloy

GAS ORIIFICE P&ID DRAWING

METER RUN

INLET BLOCK VALVE

FLOW CONDITIONING

FLOW ELEMENT

TWO STREAMS ORIFICE METER

OUTLET BLOCK VALVE

Flow Computers/Chart Recorders

Flow computers have increased in demand over

recent years
Requirements for real time measurement
Input signals from DP, P, T
Calculate corrected flow volumes
Chart Recorders have to be Changed frequently and
must be integrated
Flow computers, unlike charts, do not have to be
integrated

TYPICAL SYSTEM CONFIGURATION

Flow Computers

DCS / SCADA Communications

Supervisory
RS232 or Ethernet

Differential
Pressure
Input

Ethernet

Temperature
Pressure
HUB
HMI
Ethernet

Ethernet

Gas
Chromatograph
Digital I/O

Alarms

Reports

Orifice Flange Union With Flow Computer

Senior Orifice Fitting with Flow

Computers Attached

GAS CHROMATOGRAPH APPLICATION

Gas composition
Heating value
Specific gravity
Compressibility
Correction
C6+ or C9+

MOISTURE & H2S ANALYZER

Moisture Content
PPMv
No calorific value

H2S Content
PPMv
Toxic

Renormalization
Pure Hydrocarbon Content
Corrected BTU flow rate

Measurement System Performance

Careful

selection of components

Minimize
Proper

measurement uncertainty

operation

Periodic

maintenance & calibration

Conclusion

The new AGA #3/API 14.3 measurement standard

has greatly tightened the tolerances for the
manufacture of orifice devices and meter tubes
To insure the best possible accuracy of the metering
installation, it is imperative that regular scheduled
maintenance be performed.
The primary device, whether a fitting or flange, cannot
be expected to provide accurate, reliable flow
information if the orifice plate is bowed or otherwise
degraded in some way

Conclusion

The vast body of data supporting Orifice

measurement over the years becomes
meaningless if the guidelines for the design,
manufacture, installation, and maintenance
of these devices are not followed

VENTURY TUBE
VENTURY TUBE
MENGGUNAKAN PRINSIP BERNOULI UNTUK MERELASIKAN HUBUNGAN ANTARA FLUID VELOCITY DENGAN
PRESSURE.
KENAIKAN FLUID VELOCITY MELALUI SEBENTUK THROAT PADA DIAMETER TERTENTU, AKAN MENIMBULKAN
SELISIH TEKANAN (P) UNTUKMENDAPATKAN FLOW RATE.

KEUNTUNGAN MENGGUNAKAN VENTURY TUBE DIANTARANYA

TIDAK ADA KOMPONEN BERGERAK (BERPUTAR)
PRESSURE LOSS MINIMAL.
SESUAI UNTUK PRESSURE / TEMPERATURE TINGGI.
DAPAT DIPAKAI PADA FLUIDA KOSORIF.

FLOW NOZZLE
FLOW NOZZLE ADALAH VARIASI DARI VENTURI TUBE.
UMUMNYA DIPAKAI UNTUK APLIKASI STEAM/VAPOR PADA KECEPATAN
TINGGI (REYNOLS NUMBER >50000).
SELISIH TEKANAN (DP) TERJADI DARI BAGIAN SENSOR YANG MEMILIKI
INLET BERBENTUK ELIPTIKAL DAN OUTLET BERBENTUK NOZZLE.
UMUMNYA BERUKURAN >2 INCH, DENGAN AKURASI 1-2%.
PRESSURE TAP DIPASANG PADA 0.5 x D PADA DOWNSTREAM DAN
1 x D PADA UPSTREAM.

PITOT TUBE
FLOW METER JENIS INI DIPAKAI PADA PIPA BERUKURAN LEBIH BESAR
UNTUK APLIKASI GAS, STEAM DAN LIQUIDA BERSIH.
BEKERJA BERDASARKAN SELISIH TEKANAN ANTARA UJUNG PILOT TUBE
YANG MENGHADAP ALIRAN TERHADAP TEKANAN DI SEKELILING ALIRAN.
SELISIH TEKANAN INI MENGHASILKAN SQUARE ROOT MENGUKUR FLOW.

ANNUBAR
ANNUBAR ADALAH GABUNGAN BEBERAPA PITOT TUBE (MULTIPLE PORTED
PITOT TUBE), UNTUK MENGHASILKAN KECEPATAN ALIRAN RATA-RATA.
AKURASI PITOT TUBE/ANNUBAR BERKISAR ANTARA 5 10% (LEBIH
RENDAH DARI ORIFICE DAN VENTURI).
KOMBINASI AKURASI DENGAN TRANSMITTER DAPAT MENCAPAI +2% UNTUK
KECEPATAN ALIRAN YANG UNIFORM.

INSTALASI :
SECARA UMUM PERSYARATAN INSTALASI ADALAH 24D
UPSTREAM DAN 4D DOWNSTREAM
(JIKA FLOW METER DIPASANG PADA DOWNSTREAM
CONTROL VALVE).
JARAK STRAIGHT PIPE YANG LEBIH PANJANG AKAN
MEMBERIKAN AKURASI YANG PALING BAIK.