Must a orifice plate flow meter be installed on a horizontal pipeline?
Thread Content
Must a orifice plate flow meter be installed on a horizontal pipeline? Can it be installed on a vertical pipeline?
There’s nothing that has to be horizontal; our factory has many units installed on vertical pipelines.
It seems it should be in a vertical orientation; some vertical installations might affect the flow rate display, so it’s necessary to consult experts in instrumentation for details.
A orifice flow meter measures flow rate by utilizing the pressure drop between the two sides of the orifice; it must be installed horizontally, and there are requirements regarding the length of the horizontal section. If installed vertically, the medium itself causes a pressure drop, resulting in inaccurate measurements using an orifice plate.
When installed vertically, it is necessary to ensure that the liquid medium flows from bottom to top； Gas medium from top to bottom. It is to ensure full flow within the pipe.
We’re not sure exactly why, but the orifice flow meters in our equipment are all installed in horizontal pipes
Most of those I’ve seen are installed horizontally; the basic principle for measuring flow rate relies on the pressure drop before and after the orifice plate.
Install at a normal level. If it can be confirmed that there is no liquid condensation in the gas medium, the orifice plate can be installed vertically; however, the flow direction should preferably be from bottom to top. It is also important to ensure that the pressure guide tubes are properly arranged, as there may be a short horizontal section in these tubes as they extend from the sampling point, and any accumulation of liquid or blockages in this area can make it difficult to remove them. As for the straight pipe sections, 10 sections in front and 5 sections behind should suffice; if the pipe diameter is very large, it is advisable to consider installing a flow stabilizer upstream of the orifice plate.
Reply to 8# NB_LYZ: What if it’s a liquid?
I agree with this student’s view; orifice flow meters should be installed on horizontal pipelines.
For flow control orifice plates, they can be installed vertically if dealing with liquids, but are usually installed horizontally for gases