The Design Parameters Analysis for the Manufacturing of an Orifice Plate flow Rig

An orifice plate flow rig for mass flow rate measurement and control is under investigation and the design of an in-house orifice plate flow rig is being analysed to ascertain the manufacturing equipment, rig dimensions, and fluid flow parameters necessary for the manufacturing of the flow rig capable of measuring a mass flow rate of 5 kg/s. Therefore, the design parameters analysis for the manufacturing of an orifice plate flow Rig is presented. The orifice plate rig is designed and adapted in such a way that the flow intake unit and the orifice unit carried out work simultaneously thereby measuring the flow rate, enhancing Reynolds number analysis and other flow properties. The key principal units of the orifice plate flow rig are the compressor section, laminar flow element, butterfly valve, control valves, rotameter, orifice plates, Venturi, refrigerator dryer, an upstream development length of 14 equivalent diameter pipe length, and 2-inch pipe dimensions designed and incorporated for efficient operation, ease of assembly, and disassembly for efficient maintenance. Bernoulli’s principle and Continuity equation were applied in this study. With an orifice upstream pipe designed diameter of 254 mm, upstream pressure of 3 bars gauge with an inlet temperature of 433K, and a mass flow rate of 5 kg/s, the analysis indicates an orifice area of 0.0285 m 2 and a pipe area of 0.0507 m2 respectively are capable for this flow rig, with a flow density of 3.16 kg/m3 , the flow velocity of 31. 26 m/s, absolute viscosity of fluid of 2.457 x 10-5 kg/m s, and Reynolds number of 1019418. Further analyses were carried out, which shows that an increase in the mass flow rate through an orifice plate flow rig will increase the flow velocity, Reynolds number, and differential pressure, but decreases the downstream pressure. Hence, an increase in the Reynolds number decreases the coefficient of discharge and increases differential pressure, thereby, increasing the flow rate. This study is to assist in the calibration of orifice plates for mass flow measurement and control.