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PDF - Why Is Beta Ratio Limit Required

The beta ratio, which is the ratio of the inner diameter to the outer diameter of an orifice plate, is typically kept between 0.3 to 0.7 for flow measurement. Extreme beta ratios (very low or high) are problematic: a beta ratio of 1 means no pressure drop across the plate, while a very low beta of 0.1 causes high pressure drop but increases uncertainty. Moderate beta ratios around 0.5 provide an optimal balance of adequate pressure drop and measurement accuracy. The allowed beta range of 0.3 to 0.7 is based on empirical testing rather than a strict rule.

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Shakti Kumar Achyut Kurup
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360 views6 pages

PDF - Why Is Beta Ratio Limit Required

The beta ratio, which is the ratio of the inner diameter to the outer diameter of an orifice plate, is typically kept between 0.3 to 0.7 for flow measurement. Extreme beta ratios (very low or high) are problematic: a beta ratio of 1 means no pressure drop across the plate, while a very low beta of 0.1 causes high pressure drop but increases uncertainty. Moderate beta ratios around 0.5 provide an optimal balance of adequate pressure drop and measurement accuracy. The allowed beta range of 0.3 to 0.7 is based on empirical testing rather than a strict rule.

Uploaded by

Shakti Kumar Achyut Kurup
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Why is BETA ratio between 0.3 to 0.

Have you ever wondered from where do we get this beta numbers from and why
we must keep the BETA ratio in orifice calculation in between these two Values

Let us start with understanding what is Beta Ratio and then lets get rebellious and
take “Extreme cases” where we don’t follow these limits.

It has a very simple self explainatory equation and is as follows

BETA= I.D of Orifice (BORE of orifce) / O.D of Orifice (I.D of Pipe)

For experimental purpose .Lets take “Extreme cases”

What if we take a BETA of 1

By : Asad Shaikh (I&C Engineer) www.asad-shaikh.com


This is Possible if I.D of orifice =O.D of Orifice

But that means there is no restriction to flow so no Pressure Drop.

And Flow measurement is not possible if we have no pressure drop

Hence Beta ratio of 1 is not possible.

What if we take a BETA of 0.9

This is Possible if I.D of orifice approximately near O.D of Orifice

But that means there is very little restriction to flow so very little Pressure Drop.

And at low pressure drop it be difficult to measure and get required accuracy so
we don’t go beyond 0.7

Also "Uncertainty increases"at such high beta ratio, This is an amazing concept
that often gets overlooked and this is explained in detail in the coming passage
with a simple graph from API MPMS 14.3.1 standard

By : Asad Shaikh (I&C Engineer) www.asad-shaikh.com


What if we take a BETA of 0.1

This is Possible if I.D of orifice is very small as compared to O.D of Orifice

But that means there is very High restriction to flow so very High Pressure Drop.

This seems Good Right? High Pressure Drop means it will be easy to measure?

This is not the only consideration we have while sizing orifice.

Beta Ratio has an effect o variety of parmeters (Few reasons are listed below)

1) Process Hydraulics

This Affects Process Hydraulic calculation and also leads to Inefficiency in process
as a whole.

As the PUMP will have to PUMP more !! As a result Process people in their
Datasheet specify maximum allowable Pressure loss in Orifice.

By : Asad Shaikh (I&C Engineer) www.asad-shaikh.com


What is the use of purposefully creating more restriction and then trying to
compensate it with more pumping power!

2) Higher probability of cavitation and flashing

The more we drop the pressure the more is the chances of liquid to reach “Vapor
Pressure”

And thus the chances for “Cavitation and Flashing” is more

NEXT important consideration

3) Coefficient of discharge (Ucertainity increases at extreem beta ratios)

COEFFICIENT OF DISCHARGE (UNCERTIANITY)

In simple words Cd (Uncertainty) is a function of Reynolds Number & Diameter


ratio

the same defination by API is as follows

The estimated uncertainty of the empirical coefficient of discharge for concentric,


square-edged, flange-tapped orifice meters that are in compliance with this
standard (API 14.3.1) is a function of the Reynolds number and the diameter ratio
(β)

(Reference API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards Chapter 14.3.1


Page no 31)

However at very high Reynolds numbers (approx. greater than 1,00000) the
uncertainty is only a function of the diameter ratio(BETA) (β)

So Here’s Where Beta Ratio again comes into picture

Below is graph from API Standards Chapter 14.3.1 that has Percent Uncertainty Vs
Beta Ratio (See Comments in Red)

By : Asad Shaikh (I&C Engineer) www.asad-shaikh.com


So from this graph we can deduce it is better to come to a nearby moderate value
of BETA approx.=0.5 for better accuracy !!

Lastly one unanswered question?

Why only between 0.3 to 0.7

There is no hard and fast rule it is just due to above reasons we try to stay in the
moderate range, this limit is established by “Empirical” Method (That is by
experimental means, we have come to this value).

Some standards say we should be between 0.2 to 0.6

While few suggest beta ratio between 0.1 to 0.7

None the less, stay Safe and select a moderate value

Thanks for Reading !!

Hope you found it valuable.

By : Asad Shaikh (I&C Engineer) www.asad-shaikh.com


Credits :- Thanks to Satish Sohani for providing inputs about change in pump
hydraulics due to increased restriction !!

PS: This is as per best of my current understanding !!

By : Asad Shaikh (I&C Engineer) www.asad-shaikh.com

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