How do I model an orifice in a Pipe Flow Expert systems?
The precise location of the vena contracta for an orifice plate installation will vary with flow rate, and also with the beta ratio (β) of the orifice plate, defined as the ratio of bore diameter (d) to inside pipe diameter (D):β =d/D. The simplest design of orifice plate is the square-edged, concentric orifice. This calculator computes the pressure drop across an orifice, which can be used to. To calculate the flowrate of a fluid passing through an orifice plate, enter the. Since the pressure at 1 will be higher than the pressure at 2 (for flow moving.
The Pipe Flow Expert software does not currently contain a specific orifice component.
You can however model an orifice by using a Fitting with the appropriate K factor or by using a Component with defined flow versus pressure loss performance.
The following notes explain how to model and size an orifice.
You can however model an orifice by using a Fitting with the appropriate K factor or by using a Component with defined flow versus pressure loss performance.
The following notes explain how to model and size an orifice.
NOTES:
Using a K Factor to model performance of an Orifice
You can represent an orifice in a Pipe Flow Expert system by using a Fitting with a specific K factor if you know the K factor that represents the flow versus pressure loss performance of your orifice.
If you have not yet determined the orifice size then to estimate this we would suggest that you temporarily use a Flow Control Valve in your system to control the flow rate in the pipe (to whatever flow rate you require). When the system is solved the calculated results will report the additional pressure drop that the FCV (Flow Control Valve) had to introduce in order to control the flow rate (just hover over the FCV with the mouse cursor and the Control Loss will be shown).
It is then possible to manually calculate a K factor from:
Head loss = K x v^2 /2g
Thus K = (Head loss x 2g)/(v^2)
Where v is the velocity in the pipe.
The K here (as above) is actually a Fitting K Factor.
The handbook of Hydraulic Resistance (I.E.IDELCHIK) provides a formula for calculation of equivalent K factors for orifices based on area ratios of the pipe and the orifice. The attached document lists the Equivalent K factors for sharp edged orifices in a straight tube based on area ratios (D1 = Pipe I D, DO = Orifice ID, FO/F1 =Orifice/Pipe area ratio).
Equivalent_K_Factors_For_Sharp_Edged_Orifices.pdf
Using the table of equivalent K Factors, you should be able to look up and estimate the orifice size which provides the required Orifice/Pipe area ratio.
You can then create a new fitting (in the fittings database) with a K factor that represents a particular Orifice size and Pipe size combination. Once this fitting is created it can then be used again and again as required.
Important: If the same size orifice was used in a different pipe size you would need to create a new fitting with a different K factor.
Using a Component to model an Orifice
You can also represent an orifice in the system with a Component, where you specify the flow versus pressure loss performance of the orifice for several different flow rates (the orifice manufacturer may be able to supply a few points of data). The Pipe Flow Expert software can then fit a curve through these and expand the data up to 10 flow rate versus pressure points.
If you only know the pressure drop through the orifice for one flow rate then you may be able to approximate the orifice performance with a component that is set to a specific Cv or Kv value. Use the helper to calculate a Cv or Kv value based on one point of flow versus pressure loss data (this will the component to represent changes in pressure loss with changes in flow rate based on a square law).
While you can use a component object to model the effect of an orifice in a system, if you already know the flow rate and pressure drop characteristics of the orifice for a range of flow rates, there is no automatic reverse procedure to calculate the size of the orifice (since you probably knew the size of the orifice that you were entering modelling data for).
Using a K Factor to model performance of an Orifice
You can represent an orifice in a Pipe Flow Expert system by using a Fitting with a specific K factor if you know the K factor that represents the flow versus pressure loss performance of your orifice.
If you have not yet determined the orifice size then to estimate this we would suggest that you temporarily use a Flow Control Valve in your system to control the flow rate in the pipe (to whatever flow rate you require). When the system is solved the calculated results will report the additional pressure drop that the FCV (Flow Control Valve) had to introduce in order to control the flow rate (just hover over the FCV with the mouse cursor and the Control Loss will be shown).
It is then possible to manually calculate a K factor from:
Head loss = K x v^2 /2g
Thus K = (Head loss x 2g)/(v^2)
Where v is the velocity in the pipe.
The K here (as above) is actually a Fitting K Factor.
The handbook of Hydraulic Resistance (I.E.IDELCHIK) provides a formula for calculation of equivalent K factors for orifices based on area ratios of the pipe and the orifice. The attached document lists the Equivalent K factors for sharp edged orifices in a straight tube based on area ratios (D1 = Pipe I D, DO = Orifice ID, FO/F1 =Orifice/Pipe area ratio).
Equivalent_K_Factors_For_Sharp_Edged_Orifices.pdf
Using the table of equivalent K Factors, you should be able to look up and estimate the orifice size which provides the required Orifice/Pipe area ratio.
You can then create a new fitting (in the fittings database) with a K factor that represents a particular Orifice size and Pipe size combination. Once this fitting is created it can then be used again and again as required.
Important: If the same size orifice was used in a different pipe size you would need to create a new fitting with a different K factor.
Using a Component to model an Orifice
You can also represent an orifice in the system with a Component, where you specify the flow versus pressure loss performance of the orifice for several different flow rates (the orifice manufacturer may be able to supply a few points of data). The Pipe Flow Expert software can then fit a curve through these and expand the data up to 10 flow rate versus pressure points.
If you only know the pressure drop through the orifice for one flow rate then you may be able to approximate the orifice performance with a component that is set to a specific Cv or Kv value. Use the helper to calculate a Cv or Kv value based on one point of flow versus pressure loss data (this will the component to represent changes in pressure loss with changes in flow rate based on a square law).
While you can use a component object to model the effect of an orifice in a system, if you already know the flow rate and pressure drop characteristics of the orifice for a range of flow rates, there is no automatic reverse procedure to calculate the size of the orifice (since you probably knew the size of the orifice that you were entering modelling data for).