What is an orifice flange?

Flanges have been an integral part of the piping system. There are varieties of flanges that are in use in different industries. Every industry demands a special set of flanges according to their requirements.

What is a flange?

A flange is a metal disc used to join pipes. A gasket is fixed between the two flanges to tighten up the seal. A flange is used to connect two pipes or valves or tubes to form a piping network. Flanges provide support and strength and prevent leakage.

Flanges are commonly welded or screwed into pipes or valves and are then joined with bolts. Flanges provide easy access to clean or inspect a piping system.

Flanges are made of different metal – Stainless Steel, Cast Iron, Ductile Iron, Carbon Steel, etc. As they are made from a variety of metals, flanges differ in their ‘pressure classes’.

Every flange is classified under a pressure class, depending on the capacity of the flange to withstand a particular amount of temperature. Also, the metal used in a flange can determine how much pressure it can withstand.

What is an Orifice flange?

Orifice flanges are disc-shaped flanges which are commonly provided with one of the three flanges namely welding-neck, slip-on and threaded.

Main purpose:

Orifice flanges are widely used with orifice meters they measure the flow rate of either liquid or gases, that flow through the pipe.

An orifice plate, which is the device to measure the flow of the inner fluid or gas, is secured between two orifice flanges, which are attached to the pipe. The orifice plate contains a small hole; two pressure tap holes are drilled in each flange which helps in measuring the pressure built inside the pipe.

A ‘jack screw’ fitted between the two flanges, it enables to separate the flanges during inspection or replacement process.

Use:

These flanges are used in the following industries:

• Heavy and light chemicals
• Steel
• Paper
• Nuclear
• Petrochemicals
• Sewage treatment
• Water treatment and distribution
• Power Generation
• Oil production and refining
• Gas Processing and transmission

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