Logarithmic Spiral Orifice Plate for Eddy and Pressure Loss Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orifice plates experience significant pressure losses and chaotic eddy formations, leading to inefficiencies and reduced measurement accuracy, and lack designs that minimize system pressure drop, recover pressure, and reduce noise and other inefficiencies while optimizing process variable measurements.
Innovation Solution
An orifice plate with a plurality of holes arranged in a logarithmic spiral layout, where each hole has a contoured conical shape with a constant growth factor of 1.618, designed to regulate fluid flow and minimize pressure losses, noise, and optimize measurement accuracy by balancing pressure across the plate's surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional orifice plate design is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but significant pressure losses occur and chaotic eddy formations reduce measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The orifice plate is segmented into multiple functional zones with different hole patterns. A first pattern of holes is positioned upstream to balance pressure and reduce eddy formations, while a second pattern of holes is positioned downstream to optimize flow regulation. This segmentation allows the plate to simultaneously reduce pressure losses and improve measurement accuracy by addressing different flow conditions in different zones.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the orifice plate are given different local qualities through varied hole patterns and geometries. The upstream region features a first pattern of holes optimized for pressure balancing and eddy reduction, while the downstream region features a second pattern optimized for flow control. Each local region is designed to address specific flow characteristics at that position, improving overall measurement accuracy while minimizing energy loss.
2Stress or pressure
If larger pumps are used to handle pressure losses, then the pressure losses can be compensated, but the system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The orifice plate is designed to self-regulate pressure distribution through its multi-zone hole pattern configuration. The upstream pattern of holes automatically balances pressure and reduces eddy formations without requiring external intervention or additional components. This self-service approach compensates for pressure losses inherently within the orifice plate structure, eliminating the need for larger, more expensive pumps.
3Reliability
If the orifice plate is designed to reduce eddy turbulence, then measurement linearity and repeatability improve, but the design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The orifice plate divides the flow regulation function into segmented zones with distinct hole patterns. The upstream zone contains a first pattern of holes specifically configured to balance pressure and minimize eddy turbulence formation, while the downstream zone contains a second pattern for flow optimization. This segmentation achieves improved measurement repeatability through targeted eddy reduction without requiring complex overall design, as each zone independently addresses its specific function.
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations of an orifice plate configured to regulate a fluid flow are provided. An example orifice plate is configured to be positioned in a conduit and comprises a plurality of holes that extend therethrough. The plurality of holes are arranged to form one or more spiral layouts configured to regulate a fluid flow passing therethrough. Each spiral layout is a logarithmic spiral. In some implementations, each spiral layout has a growth factor of substantially 1.618 for each quarter turn. In some implementations, each hole in an orifice plate has a contoured conical shape extending between an inlet and an outlet, the inlet is larger in diameter than the outlet.