Orifice Plate with Circumferential Wall Passages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orifice plate flow meters experience blockage along the pipe walls due to abrasive particulates, leading to erosion of the sharp upstream edges and inaccurate flow rate measurements, especially in asymmetric fluid profiles.
Innovation Solution
The orifice plate is designed with a plurality of circumferentially positioned notches or segments of a circle, positioned adjacent to the pipe wall, allowing particulates and liquids to pass freely and reducing the cumulative length of sharp edges, thereby preventing blockage and erosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional orifice plate designs with central openings are used, then flow measurement is achieved, but blockage occurs along the pipe walls due to abrasive particulates
Solution Approach 1:
The orifice plate is segmented into multiple separate openings distributed across the plate surface, rather than a single central opening. This segmentation allows the flow to be divided into multiple streams, preventing particulate accumulation and blockage in any single location while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from a single-point measurement approach to a distributed multi-point measurement approach across the plate surface. By positioning multiple openings at different locations and orientations, the system measures flow characteristics in multiple dimensions, achieving accurate measurement while preventing blockage.
2Measurement precision
If multiple apertures are used to average differential pressure drops, then flow measurement accuracy is improved, but the sharp upstream edges become susceptible to erosion
Solution Approach 1:
Each individual orifice opening is designed with optimized local geometry, including rounded leading edges instead of sharp edges. This local quality change reduces erosion susceptibility at each measurement point while the collective arrangement of multiple openings maintains the averaging function for accurate flow measurement.
3Measurement precision
If openings are positioned to measure pressure drops, then flow rate measurement is achieved, but particulates accumulate along the pipe walls
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple openings are positioned asymmetrically across the orifice plate, with varying distances from the pipe walls and different orientations relative to the flow direction. This asymmetric distribution prevents symmetric particulate accumulation patterns and ensures that no single wall region becomes a persistent blockage point, while still capturing representative pressure differential data.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design ensures accurate flow rate measurements by averaging pressure drops across the plate, minimizing erosion of the orifice edges and preventing fluid blockage, regardless of the fluid flow profile, whether annular or stratified.
Implementation Method 1
the need for flow conditioners downstream of pipe elbows, valves and other flow interrupting devices is well documented in many prior art patents. Using an orifice plate flow meter with multiple apertures to self-condition disturbed and non-linear flow by averaging the differential pressure drops across a plate
Data Source
AI summary
An element of an averaging orifice plate fluid flow meter for measuring the volumetric rate of fluid flow in a conduit having an interior circumference for carrying a flow of fluid comprising, a planar flow impedance plate for disposition transversely across the interior of the conduit and perpendicular to the fluid flow, a plurality of spaced apart orifices disposed in the plate where the profile of each orifice is a segment of a circle on an arc where the arc is coincident with a portion of the interior circumference of the conduit.