Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Parameterizing V-notch Weir Equations for Flow Monitoring in a Drainage Control Structure
Published on: April 25, 2025
A power law approach to orifice flow rate calibration
R Russell Rhinehart1, Solomon Gebreyohannes, Upasana Manimegalai Sridhar
1School of Chemical Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078-5021, USA. rrr@okstate.edu
Abstract:
Although standards for orifice flow meter design, installation, and calibration are supported herein, noncompliant devices exist in many pilot-, lab-scale, and on-board applications. For these, a common calibration practice is to preserve the ideal square root relation and determine a device specific discharge coefficient value. This work provides theoretical and empirical analyses to support relaxing the square root relation between orifice pressure drop and flow rate for noncompliant devices. The resulting power law relation is shown to improve accuracy, precision, and rangeability. Whether a device specific square root or power law model is used, it requires off-line or in-line calibration data. As such, a power law calibration model may only be useful for on-board and small-scale applications.
Related Concept Videos
Pipe Flowrate Measurement
The orifice meter is a simple,...
Pipe Flowrate Measurement: Problem Solving
Typical Model Studies
Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway
Poiseuille's Law and Reynolds Number
Steady, Laminar Flow in Circular Tubes

