An orifice meter is a piece of equipment used to measure the flow rate of a gas or a fluid. It mainly consists of an orifice plate, an orifice plate housing, and a meter tube.
Construction of an Orifice Meter
It is typically made of carbon steel, and the main components of the device are:
Inlet Section – a linear segment extending from the device and acts as an end connection for the fluid flowing inside.- Outlet Section – also a linear segment similar to the inlet section where the pressure of the gas or fluid discharged is determined.
- Orifice Plate – present between the outlet and inlet segments and used to generate a pressure drop which enables the measurement of the flow rate.
- Flow Conditioner – installed in the inlet section of the meter tube and is used to enhance linear flow in the inlet section of the meter tube.
Basic Working Principle of an Orifice Meter
It works on the Differential Pressure Measurement principle.
- The liquid or gas whose flow rate is to be determined is passed through the orifice plate.
- This creates a pressure drop across the orifice plate which varies with the flow rate, resulting in a differential pressure between the outlet and inlet segments.
- This pressure drop is measured and is used to calculate the flow rate of the fluid or gas.
Types of Orifice Fitting
There are three major kinds of fittings as follows:
- Single Chamber
As the name suggests, it consists of a single chamber designed for the precise measurement of the flow rate of a fluid or gas. - Dual Chamber
It is installed in conjunction with downstream and upstream sections, and comes with O-ring seals, eliminating the problem of maintaining the gasket in the device. In addition to this, a valve seal is also available for dual chamber orifice fitting. - Double Block and Bleed (DBB)
It comes with two valves for different chambers, which enhance the operational safety. It also offers protection from toxic liquids and ensures the longevity of the equipment.
Applications of Orifice Meter
Listed below are the two primary uses of an orifice meter:
- It is used to measure the flow rate of fluids in their single state (i.e. gaseous state or liquid state).
- It can also be used to measure the flow rate of fluids in a mixed state (both gaseous and liquid states) such as, wet steam, or natural gas with water.
It is utilized in the following industries:
- Water treatment plants
- Natural gas industries
- Refineries
- Petrochemical plants
Advantages of an Orifice Meter
- It is cost-effective and quite easy to use.
- It occupies less space, making it ideal for space-constrained applications.
- It can also be used to determine flow rates in large pipes.
- It can be installed in the horizontal or vertical positions.
Contact Us for High-Quality & Reliable Orifice Meter
At Aspire Energy Resources Inc., we believe in measurement accuracy, and ensure the standards of authorities such as the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) or BC Oil and Gas Commission (BC OGC) are adhered to properly. In addition to this, we use only those Orifice fittings that are built in accordance with the regulations of the Alberta Boilers Safety Association (ABSA).
For more information about our services, get in touch with us by calling 403-314-5422 or 1-800-993-9958.
