An Orifice flange is designed to measure flow. They sit either side of an orifice plate which is a controlled restriction. The Orifice plate fits in the line between two flanges and is bolted in place. Fluid dynamics then enable the designer to monitor the flow by monitoring the pressure before and after the orifice.
An Orifice flange assembly consists of two ported flanges, plugs, a jacking bolt and, may or may not be supplied with bolts.
Typically an Orifice flange will be stamped showing its size, rating, standard, material, heat number, Balcombe Engineering stamp and production traceability code. Balcombe Engineering can arrange for your own part identification and process traceability to be stamped on the Orifice flange.
The Orifice flange surrounds an Orifice plate. This Orifice plate provides a known aperture that can be used with other process factors to calculate flow information.
Typically an Orifice plate will have stamped showing its size, rating, standard, material, heat number, Balcombe Engineering stamp and production traceability code. Balcombe Engineering can arrange for your own part identification and process traceability to be stamped on the Orifice plate.
Balcombe Engineering manufactures and stocks Orifice flanges in Australia for a variety of industries. The most commonly used standard is ASME B16.36 which covers Orifice flanges for pipes up to nominal bore of 600mm depending on the pressure class. This standard refers repeatedly to B16.5 and uses the B16.5 hole and sealing face diameter. Mostly, B16.5 Weld Necks cannot be converted to Orifice flanges.
Other standards exist and Balcombe Engineering are able to rapidly manufacture Orifice flanges to comply with these standards or company specific drawings.
Typically Orifice flanges and plates are produced as a flat face, raised face or ring joint sealing surface depending on the application requirement. The finishes are identical to those under ASME/ANSI B16.5. The spiral sealing face is a specified finish typically Ra 3.2µm-6.3µm.
As an Australian manufacturer, Balcombe Engineering is able to manufacture Orifice flanges in a material with the testing as required by the client specification. Typically Orifice flanges will be manufactured from carbon or stainless steels. Typical carbon steel materials are forgings like A105, A350 LF2, A350 LF3. In corrosion resistant materials A182 F316L, F304L, UNS31803 are common. Less common but easily supplied are Duplex F51 and Incoloy 625.
Additionally, specialist finishes are available such as galvanising, PTFE coatings and linings and various epoxy finishes.
An Orifice flange will always have 2 sealing faces and two weld preparations, which require significant face protection.
Whether you want the Orifice flanges protected for 2 weeks or 2 years, Balcombe Engineering has a packing system that ensures that Orifice flanges arrive at the installation in good condition. Our sales team is happy to provide additional information if more robust corrosion protection is required.
Sometimes a specific engineering requirement may dictate the need for special material and construction to produce the Orifice flanges. Typical changes are the number and type of ports. The ports may be screwed, socket welded or have flanged extensions welded to them.
Balcombe Engineering is a manufacturer with full ISO 9001:2015 certification and are able to produce to your requirements including detailed testing and documentation. All material is traced through the system and ITPs and MDRs are available on request. Your order can be packaged in line with your engineering or project specification and we are set up to complete the tasks within remarkably short delivery time frames.
