A Numerical Study of the Laminar Viscous Incompressible Flow Through a Pipe Orifice

Abstract

The present paper discusses a numerical algorithm for the solution of the steady flow of a viscous fluid through a pipe orifice which allows for considerable flexibility in the choice of orifice plate geometry. The results are compared to the data for a wide range of Reynolds numbers in the laminar regime and orifice/pipe diameter ratios for a 45 deg sharp edged orifice plate, a square edged orifice plate and a thin orifice plate. Based on the initial results presented here the numerical algorithm is deemed to provide a fast, accurate and relatively easy way of examining the effects of a wide variety of orifice plate geometries and flow situations. The solution efficiency is made possible by solving the equations of motion in general orthogonal coordinates.