Orifice, Nozzle and Venturi Flow Rate Meters

The orifice, nozzle and venturi flow rate meters use the Bernoulli
Equation to calculate the fluid flow rate using pressure difference
through obstructions in the flow
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In a flow metering deice !ased on t"e #ernoulli $%uation t"e downstream pressure after an
o!struction will !e lower t"an t"e upstream pressure !efore& 'o understand orifice, nozzle and enturi
meters it(s t"erefore necessar) to e*plore t"e #ernoulli $%uation&
The Bernoulli Equation
+ssuming a "orizontal flow ,neglecting minor eleation differences !etween measuring points- t"e
#ernoulli $%uation can !e modified to.
p1 + 1/2 v1
2
= p2 + 1/2 v2
2
(1)
where
p = pressure
= density
v = flow velocity
'"e e%uation can !e adapted to ertical flow !) adding eleation "eig"ts h1 and h2&
+ssuming uniform elocit) profiles in t"e upstream and downstream flow / t"e 0ontinuit)
$%uation can !e e*pressed as
q = v1 A1 = v2 A2 (2)
where
q = flow rate
A = flow area
0om!ining ,1- and ,2-, assuming A2 < A1, gies t"e 3ideal3 e%uation.
q = A2 2(p1 ! p2) / (1 ! (A2 / A1)
2
) "
1/2
(#)
For a gien geometr) ,+-, t"e flow rate can !e determined !) measuring t"e pressure difference p1 !
p2$
'"e t"eoretical flow rate q will in practice !e smaller ,2 ! %&'- due to geometrical conditions&
'"e ideal e%uation ,4- can !e modified wit" a disc"arge coefficient.
q = cd A2 2(p1 ! p2) / (1 ! (A2 / A1)
2
) "
1/2
(#()
where
cd = dischar)e coefficient
'"e disc"arge coefficient cd is a function of t"e 5et size / or orifice opening / t"e
area ratio = Avc / A2
where
Avc = area in *vena contracta*
3+ena ,ontracta3 is t"e minimum 5et area t"at appears 5ust downstream of t"e restriction& '"e iscous
effect is usuall) e*pressed in terms of t"e nondimensional parameter Re)nolds Num!er / Re&
6ue to t"e #enoulli and 0ontinuit) $%uation t"e elocit) of t"e fluid will !e at it(s "ig"est and t"e
pressure at t"e lowest in 3+ena ,ontracta3& +fter t"e metering deice t"e elocit) will decrease to t"e
same leel as !efore t"e o!struction& '"e pressure recoer to a pressure leel lower t"an t"e pressure
!efore t"e o!struction and adds a "ead loss to t"e flow&
$%uation ,4- can !e modified wit" diameters to.
q = cd -/% .2
2
2(p1 ! p2) / (1 ! d
%
) "
1/2
(%)
where
.2 = orifice, venturi or no//le inside dia0eter
.1 = upstrea0 and downstrea0 pipe dia0eter
d = .2 / .1 dia0eter ratio
- = #$1%
$%uation ,7- can !e modified to mass flow for fluids !) simpl) multipl)ing wit" t"e densit).
0 = cd -/% .2
2
2(p1 ! p2) / (1 ! d
%
) "
1/2
(1)
8"en measuring t"e mass flow in gases, its necessar) to considerate t"e pressure reduction and
c"ange in densit) of t"e fluid& '"e formula a!oe can !e used wit" limitations for applications wit"
relatiel) small c"anges in pressure and densit)&
The Orifice Plate
'"e orifice meter consists of a flat orifice plate wit" a circular "ole drilled in it& '"ere is a pressure tap
upstream from t"e orifice plate and anot"er 5ust downstream& '"ere are in general t"ree met"ods of
placing t"e taps& '"e coefficient of t"e meter depends upon t"e position of taps&
Flange
location / 'ap
location 1 inch
upstream and 1
inch
downstream
from face of
orifice
3+ena
,ontracta3
location / 'ap
location 1 pipe
diameter
,actual inside-
upstream and
&$# to &$2 pipe diameter downstream from face of orifice
9ipe location / 'ap location 2$1 times nominal pipe diameter upstream and : times nominal
pipe diameter downstream from face of orifice
'"e disc"arge coefficient / cd / aries considera!l) wit" c"anges in area ratio and t"e Re)nolds
num!er& + disc"arge coefficient cd = &$3& ma) !e taken as standard, !ut t"e alue aries noticea!l)
at low alues of t"e Re)nolds num!er&
6isc"arge 0oefficient ! cd
6iameter
Ratio
d = .2 / .1
Re)nolds Num!er / 4e
1;
7
1;
<
1;
=
1;
>
;&2 ;&=; ;&<?< ;&<?7 ;&<?7
;&7 ;&=1 ;&=;4 ;&<?: ;&<?:
;&< ;&=2 ;&=;: ;&=;4 ;&=;4
;&= ;&=4 ;&=1 ;&=;: ;&=;:
;&> ;&=7 ;&=17 ;&=;? ;&=;?
'"e pressure recoer) is limited for an orifice plate and t"e permanent pressure loss depends primaril)
on t"e area ratio& For an area ratio of ;&<, t"e "ead loss is a!out >; / ><@ of t"e orifice differential&
'"e orifice meter is recommended for clean and dirt) li%uids and some slurr) serices&
'"e rangea!ilit) is % to 1
'"e pressure loss is 0ediu0
')pical accurac) is 2 to %' of full scale
'"e re%uired upstream diameter is 1& to #&
'"e iscosit) effect is hi)h
'"e relatie cost is low
References
+merican Societ) of Mec"anical $ngineers ,+SM$-& 2;;1& Measurement of fluid flow using
small !ore precision orifice meters& +SM$ MF0/17M/2;;1&
International Organization of Standards ,ISO <1=>/1.2;;4-& Measurement of fluid flow
!) means of pressure differential deices, 9art 1. Orifice plates, nozzles, and Venturi tu!es
inserted in circular cross/section conduits running full& Reference num!er. ISO <1=>/1.2;;4&
International Organization of Standards ,ISO <1=>/1- +mendment 1& 1??:& Measurement of
fluid flow !) means of pressure differential deices, 9art 1. Orifice plates, nozzles, and Venturi
tu!es inserted in circular cross/section conduits running full& Reference num!er. ISO <1=>/
1.1??1A+md&1.1??:,$-&
+merican Societ) of Mec"anical $ngineers ,+SM$-& #1=&4= / 1??= / Orifice Flanges
The Venturi eter
In t"e enturi meter t"e fluid is accelerated t"roug" a conerging cone of angle 11!2&
o
and t"e
pressure difference !etween t"e upstream side of t"e cone and t"e t"roat is measured and proides a
signal for t"e rate of flow&
&
'"e fluid slows down in a cone wit" smaller angle ,1 ! 5
o
- w"ere most of t"e kinetic energ) is
conerted !ack to pressure energ)& #ecause of t"e cone and t"e gradual reduction in t"e area t"ere is
no 3Vena 0ontracta3& '"e flow area is at a minimum at t"e t"roat&
Big" pressure and energ) recoer) makes t"e enturi meter suita!le w"ere onl) small pressure "eads
are aaila!le&
+ disc"arge coefficient cd = &$651 can !e indicated as standard, !ut t"e alue aries noticea!l) at low
alues of t"e Re)nolds num!er&
'"e pressure recoer) is muc" !etter for t"e enturi meter t"an for t"e orifice plate&
'"e enturi tu!e is suita!le for clean, dirt) and iscous li%uid and some slurr) serices&
'"e rangea!ilit) is % to 1
9ressure loss is low
')pical accurac) is 1' of full range
Re%uired upstream pipe lengt" 1 to 2& diameters
Viscosit) effect is hi)h
Relatie cost is 0ediu0
References
International Organization of Standards / ISO <1=>/1.2;;4 Measurement of fluid flow
!) means of pressure differential deices, 9art 1. Orifice plates, nozzles, and Venturi
tu!es inserted in circular cross/section conduits running full& Reference num!er. ISO
<1=>/1.2;;4&
+merican Societ) of Mec"anical $ngineers +SM$ F$6 ;1/Can/1?>1& Fluid Meters
'"eir '"eor) +nd +pplication/ Si*t" $dition
The !ozzle
Nozzles used for determining fluid(s flowrate t"roug" pipes can !e in t"ree different t)pes.
The "#$ %&'( nozzle/ deeloped in 1?42 !) t"e International Organization for
Standardization or ISO& '"e IS+ 1?42 nozzle is common outside DS+&
The long radius nozzleis a ariation of t"e IS+ 1?42 nozzle&
The venturi nozzleis a ")!rid "aing a conergent section similar to t"e IS+ 1?42 nozzle and
a diergent section similar to a enturi tu!e flowmeter&
6isc"arge 0oefficient ! cd
6iameter
Ratio
d = .2 / .1
Re)nolds Num!er / 4e
1;
7
1;
<
1;
=
1;
>
;&2 ;&?=: ;&?:: ;&??7 ;&??<
;&7 ;&?<> ;&?:7 ;&??4 ;&??<
;&= ;&?< ;&?:1 ;&??2 ;&??<
;&: ;&?7 ;&?>: ;&??1 ;&??<
'"e flow nozzle is recommended for !ot" clean and dirt) li%uids
'"e rangea!ilit) is % to 1
'"e relatie pressure loss is 0ediu0
')pical accurac) is 1!2' of full range
Re%uired upstream pipe lengt" is 1& to #& diameters
'"e iscosit) effect hi)h
'"e relatie is 0ediu0
References
+merican Societ) of Mec"anical $ngineers +SM$ F$6 ;1/Can/1?>1& Fluid Meters
'"eir '"eor) +nd +pplication/ Si*t" $dition
International Organization of Standards / ISO <1=>/1.2;;4 Measurement of fluid flow
!) means of pressure differential deices, 9art 1. Orifice plates, nozzles, and Venturi
tu!es inserted in circular cross/section conduits running full& Reference num!er. ISO
<1=>/1.2;;4&
E)ample * +erosene ,low Through a Venturi eter
'"e pressure difference dp E p1 / p2 !etween upstream and downstream is 1&& 78a (1 1&
1
9/0
2
)& '"e
specific grait) of kerosene is &$22&
Dpstream diameter is &$1 0 and downstream diameter is &$&3 0&
6ensit) of kerosene can !e calculated as.
= &$22 (1&&& 7)/0
#
)
= 22& (7)/0
#
)
6ensit), Specific 8eig"t and Specific Frait) / +n introduction and definition of
densit), specific weig"t and specific grait)& Formulas wit" e*amples&
Dpstream and downstream area can !e calculated as.
A1 = - ((&$1 0)/2)
2
= &$&&521 (0
2
)
A2 = - ((&$&3 0)/2)
2
= &$&&2223 (0
2
)
'"eoretical flow can !e calculated from ,4-.
q = A2 2(p1 ! p2) / (1 ! (A2/A1)
2
) "
1/2
q = (&$&&2223 0
2
) 2 (1&
1
9/0
2
) / (22& 7)/0
#
)(1 ! ( (&$&&2223 0
2
) / (&$&&521 0
2
) )
2
) "
1/2
= &$&%5 (0
#
/s)
For a pressure difference of 1 k9a ,;,;1*1;
<
NAm
2
- / t"e t"eoretical flow can !e calculated.
q = (&$&&2223 0
2
) 2 (&$&1 1&
1
9/0
2
) / (22& 7)/0
#
)(1 ! ( (&$&&2223 0
2
) / (&$&&521 0
2
) )
2
) "
1/2
= &$&&%5 (0
#
/s)
'"e mass flow can !e calculated as.
0 = q
= (&$&&%5 0
#
/s) (22& 7)/0
#
)
= #$21 (7)/s)
,low Rate and -hange in Pressure .ifference
NoteG / '"e flow rate aries wit" t"e s%uare root of t"e pressure difference&
From t"e e*ample a!oe.
a tenfold increase in t"e flow rate re%uires a one "undredfold increase in t"e pressure
differenceG
Transmitters and -ontrol #/stem
'"e nonlinear relations"ip "ae impact on t"e pressure transmitters operating range and re%uires t"at
t"e electronic pressure transmitters "ae t"e capa!ilit) to linearizing t"e signal !efore transmitting it to
t"e control s)stem&
$ccurac/
6ue to t"e non linearit) t"e turn down rate is limited& '"e accurac/ strongl/ increases in the
lower part of t"e operating range&