Professional Engineer Review Course

Unit VI – Trans Proc/Fluid Flow;

Instructor: W. J. Sembler
FLOW THROUGH AN ORIFICE
(2/05/03)

1. The equation for flow through an orifice is shown below:

Δp
2g
π (dor )2
γ
Q = [3.6E − 3] (C d,or ) 4
4 ⎡d ⎤
1 − ⎢ or ⎥
⎣ di ⎦

where,
Q = orifice flow rate = m3/hr
Cd,or = orifice discharge coefficient
dor = orifice hole diameter = mm
di = pipe inside diameter = mm
γ = specific weight = kN/m3
Δp = pressure drop across orifice= kPa

2. To perform a units balance, this equation is replaced by the

appropriate units of measurement, where U = units of measurement
conversion factor.

m3 m kPa
= [U](mm )
2

hr s 2 kN
m3

m3 m kN m 3
= [U](mm )
2

hr s 2 m 2 kN

m3 2 m
2
= [U](mm )
hr s2

m3 2 m
= [U](mm )
hr s
 Professional Engineer Review Course
Unit VI – Trans Proc/Fluid Flow;
Instructor: W. J. Sembler

3. Rewriting the above in terms of U:

m3 s 1 m2 s
U= =
hr m mm 2 mm 2 hr

4. With numbers added:

m2 s m2 − s
U= 3600 = 3.6E − 3
(1000 )2 mm 2 hr mm 2 − hr

5. With its units not shown:

U = 3.6E-3