Orifice size caclulations

(according to "Principles and Practice of Flow Meter Engineering" L.K.Shrink, Chapter 19)
1. Input data
Operating conditions
Inlet Pressure,

Pf1

70 barg
71 bara
1029.768 psia

Flow temperature

Tf

Hourly rate of flow

Wh

Gas properties
Gas
Specific gravity relative to air
Molecular weight

G
mw

24 oC
75.2 oF
535.2 oR
0.5 Kg/sec
3968.28 lb/h

Natural Gas
=
0.5664 =

Vent pipe:

20 -

(range 16.4 to 20)

2", sch.XS

Outside pipe diameter

Pipe wall thickness
Inside diameter of pipe

Dout
t
D

=
=
=

60.3 mm
5.54 mm
49.22 mm
1.937795 in

2. Calculations
2.1 Critical pressure drop
The critical pressure drop is a pressure drop equal to 50% of the upstream absolute pressure.
Therefore,
Pcritical =

Critical pressure drop,

35.5 bar
514.884 psi

The restriction orifice size shall be calculated for a pressure drop greater than the critical pressure drop. For this case, the
orifice maintains a rate of flow completely independent of downstream pressure.

2.2 Combined factor YTSP

The combined factor, YTSP, for throttling orifices for use at critical pressure drop, is calculated according to the following
equation:

YT S P

Wh
4.81 D 2 Fa Ftf Fpu Pf 1 mw

= 0.045468

where,
Hourly rate of flow
Inside diameter of pipe
Molecular weight
Inlet Pressure,

Wh
D
mw
Pf1

Factor for temperature expansion of the

Fa
orifice (from table 7 of L.K.Shrink book)
Flowing temperature factor

Ftf

= 3968.28 lb/h
= 1.937795 in
=
20
= 1029.768 psia

Ftf

= 0.985697

Fpu

= 1.064482

520
Tf

supercompressibility factor

Fpu 1

Pf 1 3.444 10 5 10 1.785 G
Tf

3.825

where,
Flow temperature
Inlet Pressure,
Specific gravity relative to air

Tf
Pf1
G

535.2 oR

= 1029.768 psia
=
0.5664

2.3 Beta ratio

The beta ratio is calculated for throttling orifices at critical pressure drop (as shown on Fig.B-2525, page 384 of L.K.Shrink
book)

0 0.6991 YT S P

0.4919

0.15285

2.4 Orifice bore

The maximum ofrifice bore, shall be then :
d = D

7.5 mm

hrink, Chapter 19)

ure drop. For this case, the

cording to the following

5, page 384 of L.K.Shrink