Use ISO 5167 to Find the Orifice Discharge Coefficient for an

Orifice Flow Meter

written by: Harlan Bengtson edited by: Lamar Stonecypher updated: 9/21/2010

ISO 5167 is a standard for calculating the orifice discharge coefficient of an orifice flow meter, which is widely used for
pipe flow rate measurement. The location of the pressure taps for an orifice flow meter was standardized by ISO 5167,
allowing better fluid flow measurement.

Introduction
ISO 5167, which came out in 1991, set three standard configurations for the pressure taps in an orifice flow meter. It also
provided means to calculate the orifice discharge coefficient for any ratio of orifice diameter to pipe diameter if one of the
standard pressure tap configurations is used. Thus ISO 5167 allows an orifice flow meter to do fluid flow measurement
over a wide range of flow rate because the orifice plates in a given orifice flow meter can be changed while still allowing
accurate determination of the orifice discharge coefficient.

The orifice meter is the simplest type of differential pressure flow measurement

device. It is just a circular plate (the orifice plate) with a hole in the middle, usually
held in place between pipe flanges as shown in the figure at the right. The flow is accelerated due to the
constriction, so the pressure is decreased downstream of the orifice plate. The pressure difference, P 1 - P2, as
shown in the figure, can be measured and used to calculate the flow rate passing through the meter from the
equation at the right. The equation gives flow rate, Q, in terms of the measured pressure difference, P 1 - P2, the
density of the fluid, , the ratio of orifice diameter to pipe diameter, , the cross-sectional area of the orifice, Ao,
and the orifice discharge coefficient, Cd.
For more details about the orifice, flow nozzle, and venturi meter, see the article, "The Orifice, Flow Nozzle, and
Venturi Meter for Pipe Flow Measurement."

Pressure Tap Locations

 The typical locations of the pressure taps for an orifice flow meter have changed over time. Prior to 1991, the downstream
pressure tap was typically located at the vena contracta, which is the minimum jet area, downstream from the orifice plate,
as shown in the figure in the previous section. The correlations for determination of the orifice discharge coefficient, C d,
were based on a vena contracta downstream pressure tap. The downstream distance of the vena contracta from the orifice

plate, however changes with different orifice diameters, so changing orifice size

In 1991 ISO 5167 identified three standard pressure tap configurations for an orifice flow meter. The three configurations
are known as corner taps, flange taps, and D - D/2 taps, as illustrated in the figure at the left. The advantage of the ISO
5167 pressure tap configurations is that the distance of the pressure taps from the orifice plate is given as a fixed distance,
or as a function of the pipe diameter, independent of the orifice diameter.

Determination of Orifice Discharge Coefficient

ISO 5167 provides an equation (given below) for the orifice discharge coefficient, C d, as a function of (d/D), Reynolds
number (Re), L1 and L2, where L1 is the distance of the upstream pressure tap from the orifice plate and L2is the distance of
the downstream pressure tap from the orifice plate. As shown in the figure above L1 = L2 = 0 for corner taps; L1 = L2 = 1"
for flange taps; and L1 = D & L2 = D/2 for D-D/2 taps. The equation for the orifice discharge coefficient is:
Cd - 0.5959 + 0.0312 2.1 - 0.1840 8 + 0.0029 2.5(106/Re)0.75 + 0.0900(L1/D)[4/(1 - 4)] - 0.0337(L2/D)3
This equation can be used to find the orifice discharge coefficient for an orifice flow meter with any of the three standard
pressure tap configurations, but not for any other arbitrary values of L1 and L2. The introduction of standard pressure tap
configurations and the equation for Cd, allows a given orifice flow meter to conveniently use different size orifice
openings and cover a wide flow measurement range.
Note that an iterative (trial and error) calculation is needed to get a value for Cd, because the upstream velocity needed for
Re isn't known until Cd is known. An Excel spreadsheet works well for the iterative calculation of the orifice discharge
coefficient using this equation. For a downloadable Excel template for the use of this equation, see the article, "Excel
Templates for Venturi and Orifice Flow Meter Calculations."
A U.S Dept. of the Interior reference with information about ISO 5167 for determining the orifice discharge coefficient is
provided below.

Images and Reference

Images drawn by H. Bengtson

REFERENCES for further information:

1. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, 2001 revised, 1997 third edition, Water Measurement Manual.
2. International Organization of Standards - ISO 5167-1:2003 Measurement of fluid flow by means of pressure differential
devices, Part 1: Orifice plates, nozzles, and Venturi tubes inserted in circular cross-section conduits running
full. Reference number: ISO 5167-1:2003.
3. Bengtson, Harlan H., Flow Measurement in Pipes and Ducts, An online continuing education course.
 MEASUREMENT OF PIPE FLOW RATE

Measurement of pipe flow rate can use various flow meters, including a differential pressure flowmeter, like the
orifice meter, venturi meter and flow nozzle meter. Other types of liquid flow meter are the rotameter, magnetic
flow meter, ultrasonic meter, turbine flow meter and coriolis flow meter.
1. The Orifice, Flow Nozzle, and Venturi Meter for Pipe Flow Measurement
2. Use ISO 5167 to Find the Orifice Discharge Coefficient for an Orifice Flow Meter
3. Excel Templates for Venturi and Orifice Flow Meter Calculations
4. Measurement of Pipe Flow Rate with a Rotameter Flow Meter
5. Pipe Flow Measurement with a Magnetic Flow Meter

Harlan Bengtson Mod 6 years ago

This article is mostly about determining the orifice coefficient. See the first and third articles in
this series for more information about flow rate calculations and choosing the orifice diameter.
Those two articles are: "The Orifice, Flow Nozzle, and Venturi Meter for Pipe Flow
Measurement," at: http://www.brighthub.com/en..., and "Excel Templates for Venturi and
Orifice Flow Meter Calculations,' at:http://www.brighthub.com/en....
o
o
o Reply
o
o Share

o
o

Avinash Kale 6 years ago

In fire protection systems normally pressure in the charged piping system is 7 Kg/ Cm2 to 10.5
kg / cm2 or higher and when hydrant valve is opened , flow rate of 900 LPM is required but
pressure at hydrant valve needs to be restricted to 7 Kg/ Cm2. Hence orifice plates needs to be
installed between hydrant valve flange and pipe flange.Which formula needs to be used to
decide bore of orifice plate. I would be pleased to receive your advice in this matter - Regards -
Avinash Kale
o
o
o Reply
o
o Share

o
o

sachin kulkarni 7 years ago

I am working for my academic project on jet formation and flow through nozzle of a hydrogen
injector, for an internal combustion engines... I want to know how the coefficient of discharge
is calculated for the nozzle, nozzle is constant diameter type, and orifice diameter is 1 mm
approximately.
o
o
o Reply
o
o Share

o
o

Thomas Mller 7 years ago

Can I set the Rynolds number of a Critical Venturi Nozzle with only knowing the Pressure in
the inflow and outflow and the geometry of the nozzle?
o
o
o Reply
o
o Share

o
o

Jiten Patel 7 years ago

Jagdish,

I think you can design the orifice with the standard density at line temp. and pressure. Variation
of the density can later be taken care of by using the pressure and temperature transmitter on
the upstream side of the orifice. Then you may multiply the flow rate with Square root of
(P*T). This will take care of density variation.

So the only change in programming will be flow rate * square of {actual pressure / pressure
taken for orifice design) * (temperature orifice is designed for / actual temperature)} . this will
take care of density variations
o
o
o Reply
o
o Share

o
o

jagdish 7 years ago

i want to measure the floe rate of the petroleum product in the pipe line whose density is not
constant. it is of pressure diffrential type orifice transmitter. how will i find the cofficients and
what changes will de done in plc logic. we are using (ab 1756) plc. thank you
o
o
o Reply
o
o Share

o
o

Harlan Bengtson Mod 7 years ago

Yes, it is correct to calculate the upstream velocity as the volumetric flow rate divided by the
pipe cross-sectional area of flow, based on the pipe I.D.
o
o
o Reply
o
o Share

o
o

Jiten Patel 7 years ago

I have on question

I have flow rate, DP, line NB now if I want to design orifice ID requirement.. I need to use
following formula

Vol. flow rate = Sq. rt .{ 2* Dela P/ (Density* (1- beta^4))} * Gas expansion factor * Gas flow
co-efficient * area of orifice bore

Form this I can calculate the ID requirement

But here in the equation we have to put Cd (gas co-efficinet ) which depends upon the reynolds
no. and the reynolds no. depends upon the upstream velocity
 my question is how to calculate the upstream velocity

Is it the right procedure to devide flow rate with the area w.r.t. pipe ID i.e.

Velocity = flowrate (Known)(meter^3/sec)/ area (meter^2)

Reynolds no. caculated considering this velocity is perfact or not?

o
o
o Reply
o
o Share

o
o

Harlan Bengtson Mod 7 years ago

Determination of the orifice coefficient is an iterative (trial & error) calculation. You can
assume a value of Re to get started and adjust that value as needed. See the article, "Excel
Templates for Venturi and Orifice Flow Meter Calculations,"
at http://www.brighthub.com/en..., for an Excel spreadsheet template that can be downloaded to
make the iterative calculation of the orifice coefficient.
o
o
o Reply
o
o Share

o
o
Jiten Patel 7 years ago
Orifice is installed to measure mass flow, volumetric flow, Down stream velocity and upstream
velocity

The mass or volumetric flow calculation depends upon Gas expansion factor(cd) which relies
on reynold no. This reynold no. depends on the velocity

Now my question is how does the upstream velocity is calculated from flow rate? if flow rate
itself relies on cd, and so reynolds no and so the upstream velocity itself.

function Q = nozzleFlow(d, D, dp, p, T)

% nozzleFlow Volumetric flow rate of air through a long radius nozzle.
% --- Evaluate fluid properties and other constants
% mu = airViscosity(T); % kinematic viscosity
mu = 0.015
rho = p/(287*(T+273.15)); % air density from ideal gas law
bbeta = d/D;
% y = expansionFactor(p,dp,bbeta,1.4);
y = 0.9994
area = 0.25*pi*d^2;
qcon = area*y*sqrt(2*dp/(rho*(1-bbeta^4)));
rcon = rho*d/(area*mu);
% --- Initialize and loop until cd converges
% tol = 5e-6; it = 0; maxit = 25; cdold = 0; cd = 0.9 ;
tol = 5e-6; it = 0; maxit = 250 ; cdold = 0; cd = 0.9 ;

while abs(cdold-cd) > tol && it < maxit

cdold = cd;
Q = cd*qcon;
Re = rcon*Q;
cd = 0.9986 - 7.006/sqrt(Re) + 134.6/Re;
it = it + 1;
end
if it >= maxit, error('No convergence after %d iterations', it); end
mu = 0.015
rho = p/(287*(T+273.15)); % air density from ideal gas law
bbeta = d/D;
% y = expansionFactor(p,dp,bbeta,1.4);
y = 0.9994
area = 0.25*pi*d^2;
qcon = area*y*sqrt(2*dp/(rho*(1-bbeta^4)));
rcon = rho*d/(area*mu);
% --- Initialize and loop until cd converges
% tol = 5e-6; it = 0; maxit = 25; cdold = 0; cd = 0.9 ;
tol = 5e-6; it = 0; maxit = 250 ; cdold = 0; cd = 0.9 ;

while abs(cdold-cd) > tol && it < maxit

cdold = cd;
Q = cd*qcon;
Re = rcon*Q;
cd = 0.9986 - 7.006/sqrt(Re) + 134.6/Re;
it = it + 1;
end
if it >= maxit, error('No convergence after %d iterations', it); end
while ( ppcc > Tolerancia )
x1(i) = A1*Cd ;
Re = x1(i)
Cd = 0.5961+0.0312*Beta.^2.1-
0.184*Beta.^8+0.0029*Beta.^2.5*(1*10^6/Re).^0.75...
+0.09*L1*Beta.^4*(1-Beta.^4).^-1-0.0337*L2*Beta.^3 % coeficiente de
descarga
% if ( Di < 71.2e-3 )
% Cd = Cd+0.011*(0.75-Beta)*(2.8-Di/25.4)
% end

ppcc = abs((A1 - Re/Cd)/A1) ;

Cdi(i) = Cd ;
PPCC(i) = ppcc ;
i = ( i + 1 )
end

x1 ; , Cdi ; , PPCC ;

Cdi = Cdi(end)
KKK = Cdi/(1-Beta.^4).^0.5 ;

% Resultados de caudal
Re = A1*Cd ;

qm1_ = ( KKK*(pi/4)*Factor_de_expansion*