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Thick-edged Orifice
Circular Cross-Section
(Pipe Flow - Guide)

Model description:

This model of component calculates the minor head loss (pressure drop) generated by
the flow in a thick-Edged orifice. Moreover, when the thickness of the orifice is
greater than 1.4 times the diameter of the orifice, the head loss due to friction in the
orifice is also taken into account because it becomes significant.

The head loss by friction in the inlet and outlet piping is not taken into account in this
component.

Model formulation:

Ratio of orifice to pipe diameters:

do

d

Pipe cross-sectional area (m²):

d2
A  
4

Orifice cross-sectional area (m²):

do 2
Ao   
4

Pipe velocity (m/s):

Q
V 
A

Orifice velocity (m/s):

Q
Vo 
Ao
Mass flow rate (kg/s):
G Q

Reynolds number in pipe:

V d
NRe 


Reynolds number in orifice:

Vo  d o
NReo 


Jet velocity ratio:


  1  0.622  1  0.215 2  0.785 5  ([1] equation 13.4)

Velocity in vena contracta:

Vc  V0  

Coefficient of local resistance (NReo  104):

 Thickness to orifice diameter ratio (t/do)  1.4:

  
K o  0.0696  1   5  2  Cth     2 
2
 
 1  Cth     12  1   2 

2

 ([1] equation
13.13)
 with :
4.5
  t 
2.5
 t  
3
Cth  1  0.50     0.50    
  1.4d   1.4d  
  o  o
 ([1] equation 13.14)

 Thickness to orifice diameter ratio (t/do)  1.4:

  
K o  0.0696  1   5  2    12  1   2 
2  t
 fo  

 1.4 
 do  ([1] equation 13.15)
 ([1] equation 13.15 with
fo = 0,02)

with :
1
fo  2
   2.51 
2  log  
  3.7  d o N Re  f 
 0 o 
Colebrook-White equation ([1] equation 3.6)

 All thickness to orifice diameter ratios (t/do):

 ([1] equations 13.13 and
13.15 with fo = 0.02)

Total pressure loss coefficient (based on the mean pipe velocity):

2
 A 
K  Ko   
 Ao 

Total pressure loss (Pa):

m  V 2
P  K 
2

Total head loss of fluid (m):

V2
H  K 
2g

Hydraulic power loss (W):

Wh  P  Q

Symbols, Definitions, SI Units:

d0 Orifice diameter (m)
d Internal pipe diameter (m)
 Ratio of orifice to pipe diameters ()
Ao Orifice cross-sectional area (m²)
A Pipe cross-sectional area (m²)
Q Volume flow rate (m³/s)
G Mass flow rate (kg/s)
Vo Mean velocity in orifice (m/s)
V Mean velocity in pipe (m/s)
NReo Reynolds number in orifice ()
 NRe Reynolds number in pipe ()
 Jet velocity ratio ()
Vc Mean velocity in vena contracta (m/s)
t Thickness orifice (m)
Ko Coefficient of local resistance ()
Cth Coefficient ()
fo Friction factor ()
K Total pressure loss coefficient (based on the mean pipe velocity) ()
P Total pressure loss (Pa)
H Total head loss of fluid (m)
Wh Hydraulic power loss (W)

m Fluid density (kg/m³)

 Fluid kinematic viscosity (m²/s)
g Gravitational acceleration (m/s²)

Validity range:
 turbulent flow regime in orifice (NReo  104)
 stabilized flow upstream of the orifice

Example of application:

References:
[1] Pipe Flow: A Practical and Comprehensive Guide. Donald C. Rennels and Hobart M.
Hudson. (2012)

HydrauCalc Edition: February 2018

© François Corre 2018