PNGE 470 EXPERIMENT 3

ORIFICE PLATE METER

EXPERIMENT OBJECTIVE:
To become familiar with orifice plate meter its theory, operation, applications, advantages,
disadvantages, and flow calculations.

INTRODUCTION AND FUNDAMENTALS:

The orifice plate (orifice meter) is a differential pressure type device that is frequently used to
measure volumetric flow of the natural gas (Figure 1).

FIGURE 1. COMMON DESIGN FOR AN ORIFICE PLATE.

When an orifice plate is placed in a pipe carrying the fluid, the orifice plate causes a pressure
drop which varies with the flow rate. This pressure drop is measured using a differential
pressure sensor and when calibrated this pressure drop becomes a measure flow rate. The
primary element consists of a thin metal plate with a sharp-edged upstream aperture (orifice)
usually machined in the middle of this plate. Orifice plates are normally inserted between two
flanges at a location where the flow rate must be determined.

The orifice plate is typically used with a secondary device such as a differential pressure
transmitter (abbreviated as DP). The DP transmitter converts the pressure differential measured
at the two pressure taps into a signal that can be interpreted by a pressure indicating controller
(PID). In PNGE Gas Measurement Laboratory the orifice plate meter is connected to a Fisher
4194HB PID, as shown in Figures 2 and, which will control the flowrate through a downstream
actuator that opens and closes the control valve as needed. The measured pressure, differential
pressure, and the temperature are recorded during flow test.
 FIGURE 2. SIMPLIFIED CONTROL LOOP DIAGRAM

ACTUATOR REMOTE CONTROLLER RECORDER

FIGURE 3. COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM.

ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS
Orifice plates have a long history of use; there is wide industry acceptance, and they are well documented
in standards. They are simple and inexpensive. The orifice meter has no moving parts and is mechanically
stable and there are no limits on temperature, pressure or size. Orifice meters have low accuracy at low
flow conditions. Additionally, orifice plates are flow-profile sensitive and require a long meter tube or
flow conditioner; they are not self-cleaning and can be damaged or clogged by high flow rates.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
Orifice plates are compatible with a wide variety of liquids, vapors and gases used in the oil and gas
industry. Slurries and dirty liquids can be handled as well but require particular attention to avoid blocking
the plate or pressure differential taps.

Orifice plates with slightly different designs exist for potentially problematic applications. For example,
the eccentric and segmental orifice plates (shown in Figure 4) are used when the fluid contains extraneous
matter to a degree that the concentric orifice plate would plug up.

FIGURE 4. ECCENTRIC AND SEGMENTAL ORIFICE PLATE DESIGNS.

PROCEDURE:
REFER TO FIGURE 5 BELOW.

 CHECK FOR LEAKAGE: Close valves ❶ and ❷. Watch the pens to detect any
leakage. They should not change if there is no leakage.

 “ZERO” THE DIFFERENTIAL: If there are no leaks in the meter, open valves ❸ and
❹. Differential pressure pen should drop to zero.

 BLEED THE METER: Open valve ❺ which releases the pressure allowing static
pressure pen to drop to zero.

 “ZERO” THE DIFFERENTIAL UNDER PRESSURE: Close Valve ❺and open valve ❶ or
❷, but not both. The differential should remain on zero.

 SET THE METER FOR THE TEST: Close valves ❸ and ❹ together. Open Valve ❺.

❸
❶
❹
❺
❷

FIGURE 5. ZEROING PROCEDURE

 SET THE RATE: Using the remote controller, set the desired percentage. When the needle
on flow control reaches the preset level, start the test.

 RECORD THE RESULTS: After the flow stabilizes, read static pressure, differential pressure
and the temperature on the Recorder.
 CALCULATE THE FLOW RATE: Use the orifice meter equation to calculate the flow rate.

 REPEAT THE TEST AT A NEW RATE

FLOW CALCULATIONS
The orifice meter in PNGE Gas Measurement Laboratory has a ½” orifice, and he pipe run
upstream and downstream of the orifice plate is 2” in diameter. The flow rate can be
calculated using the following equation:

qh  C hw  p f
Where:
qh  Flow Rate , scfh
C  Orifice Flow Constant
hw  Differential Pressure, inches of water

Pf  Absolute Static Pressure, psia

The orifice flow constant, C, is defined as:

C  Fb  Fr  Y  Fpb  Ftb  Ftf  Fg  Fpv

Fb  Basic Orifice Factor  Tables

Fr  Reynolds Number Factor  1  b hw  p f  b  Tables
Y  Expansion Factor  Tables
Fpb  Base Pressure Factor  14.73 pb
Ftb  Base Temperature Factor   t b  460  520
Ftf  Flowing Temperature Factor  520  t f  460 
Fg  Gas Gravity Factor  1  g
Fpv  Super-compressibility Factor  1 z
 RESULTS
Flowing OBSERVED
TEST STATIC PRESSURE, DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE,
TEMPERATURE, FLOW RATE**
NUMBER PSIG* INCHES OF WATER
O
F SCFH
1 76.0 91.9 6.6 1330
2 76.0 90.3 16.9 2110
3 75.5 90.7 25.3 2580
4 75.5 87.0 47.8 3470

* Upstream
** Digital Monitoring Panel (Quick Estimate)

Base Pressure: 14.73

Base Temperature: 60oF