piping-engineering.

com

http://www.piping-engineering.com/restriction-orifice-ro-flow-control-instrument.html

Restriction Orifice (RO) Flow Control Instrument

1. Introduction to Restriction orifice (RO)

Restriction orifice (RO) is mainly used to achieve controlled or restricted flow of process medium. The orifice
offers a restriction to the process flow and the pressure head drops from the upstream to the downstream. The
permanent pressure loss by the device is the intended pressure drop for which it is sized. The area of the orifice
determines the rate of flow at the outlet of a given process fluid for the specified pressure and temperature.
The responsibility of final restriction orifice sizing, selection & supply rests with the supplier. Design and sizing of
restriction orifice may require review by specialist for stress and noise related evaluation.

2. Codes & Standards

Though no internationally reputed codes and standards exist which directly address a restriction orifice but there
are associated references and some are listed below:
(i)
ISO 5167 Part 1: Measurement of fluid flow by means of pressure differential devices inserted in circular
cross-section conduits running full Part 1: General principles and requirements.
(ii)
ISO 5167 Part 2: Measurement of fluid flow by means of pressure differential devices inserted in circular
cross-section conduits running full Part 2: Orifice plates.
(iii)

IEC 60534-8-3: Industrial-process control valves Part 8-3: Noise considerations

Control valve aerodynamic noise prediction method.

3. Types of restriction orifice plates

Here is a description of a few common type of restriction orifice plate device used in Oil and Gas applications.

(i) Single stage restriction orifice.

A single stage restriction orifice is usually a plate or a block with a bore (orifice) sized to the intended permanent
loss of pressure. It is installed between the pipe flanges. Usually it is not a thin orifice plate; it is a thick orifice
plate.

(ii) Single stage multi-hole restriction orifice.

A single stage multi-hole restriction orifice plate is used to abate the noise generated by the device due to high
velocity through the bore which offers restriction to the incoming fluid. The flow at the inlet is now channeled into
several streams through the multiple holes and this reduces the noise which would be otherwise will be above the
acceptable limit if a single hole device is used.

(iii) Multi-stage restriction orifice plate assembly.

These devices are used where the pressure reduction ratio is very high and cannot be achieved by a single stage

orifice plate. Thus a multistage device essentially consists of a number of single stage device built in a single
Figure 1 Single stage Restriction Orifice
spool. Like a single stage device it can be of single hole multi stage
design or multi-hole multi-stage design or combination of both.
The Restriction Orifices are arranged in eccentric manner, diametrically
opposite each other during fabrication of MRO.

4. Application of restriction orifice plates

Followings are a few examples of common applications where these
restriction orifice devices are used to achieve controlled flow from the
upstream to the downstream. Restriction orifices are often exposed to
severe flow conditions associated with large pressure reductions and the
related fluid conditions caused by liquids flashing to a gas, cavitation, and
sonic (choked) flow. Hence such conditions also are taken into
consideration.

(i) Restriction Orifice (RO) at the downstream of blowdown

valves.
These are used to ensure controlled flow rate in a blowdown piping or
blowdown header.

Plate

When the blowdown valve (which is usually a FB or

RB ball valve) opens to release the high pressure
on its upstream, the restriction orifice plate at its
downstream ensures that the flow is not excessive
to overload the flare header. Usually the pressure
drop in blowdown circuit across the restriction
orifice could be very high say, typically 80-100 bar.
If high pressure drop is achieved through a single
stage device or by a device with not too many
stages, there will be fall in temperature during the
blowdown event due to Joule Thompson effect.
Thus the design of the RO needs to take care of the
low temperature.

(ii) Restriction Orifice (RO) in pump

recirculation line.
ROs are also used in centrifugal pumps
recirculation line where a constant recirculation flow
is required and control of recirculation and forward
flow rate is not important. The recirculation ensures
that cavitations / starvation cannot happen in the
pump.

Figure 2 Single stage Multi-hole Restriction Orifice Plate

(iii) Restriction Orifice (RO) to restrict gas blow-by.

A typical case is the flow of hydrocarbon condensate from the high pressure separator to the low pressure
separator. Usually a level control valve (LCV) controls the level of the high pressure separator. In case of the
valve failure, the valve needs to open fully to stop separator from overflowing. Full open of LCV is accompanied
by high rate of flow of condensate followed by flow of gas. To stop the downstream relieving system from
overloading the gas flow is controlled by a restriction orifice at the downstream of the LCV. Similar application is
seen in the heating medium flow into re-boiler to mitigate the effect of heating medium valve fail open position.

(iv) Restriction Orifice (RO)

to check excess flow.
ROs are used to restrict the
excessive flow in case of a
rupture. Thus in Well head
applications if the down holes
valves to be closed due to fire,
the hydraulic power oil to the
valve actuator is depressurized
by the use of fusible plug which
fuses and allows the hydraulic oil
to leak through a RO at a
restricted flow rate.

(v) Restriction Orifice (RO)

for controlled
pressurization.
During the start-up of a process
plant, many plant sections are
required to be pressurized with
the incoming process fluid in
Figure 3 Multistage Restriction Orifice Plate Assembly (Cutaway view)
controlled manner. This is
because the upstream section will
be usually at a much higher pressure than the downstream. Thus if there is no restriction on the flow rate, the
initial flow rate may be very high and may damage the pipe line and equipment. ROs are used for gradual
pressurization. To restrict the flow the ideal condition is to design for the choked flow for gas. As during the
choked flow, the rate of flow will be less as it will be proportional to the square root of inlet pressure rather than to
the differential pressure.

5. Literatures
Followings are some of the useful publications which may be referred for Restriction Orifice (RO) details.
(i) Flow Measurement Engineering Handbook, by Richard W. Miller

Related Posts:
Flow Meter Types Based on Measurement Techniques Flow meter is an instrument used for the
measurement of
Solenoid Valve An Electromagnetic Part Of A Control Introduction to solenoid valve The solenoid valve
is an electromagnetic
Guidelines for Acoustic Induced Vibration (AIV), Flow Introduction The scope of this topic is to define
the
Check List for Piping Material Take-Off (MTO) Check List for Piping Material Take-Off (MTO) Project
Name: Job
Types of Breather Valves Basic function of breather valve The breather valve also known