# Thin Orifice

Thin orifice plates are often used as measuring devices. There is a design/calculation standard ISO 5167 associated with the pressure loss over this type of element. Thin orifice plates are also used to reduce the pressure in a flowing system and for flow balancing. You should be aware that there are 2 types of pressure loss associated with this type of element. The pressure loss referred to in the calculation standard is associated with a measuring device and occurs at a specific location (for example a pipe diameter upstream and downstream of the orifice plate or at flange tap points). From a flow system viewpoint the velocity usually decelerates after the measuring/tap location and the velocity/kinetic energy is converted back to static pressure. In flow systems we are also interested in the overall pressure loss (including pressure recovery) and FluidFlow shows pressure loss results for both of these purposes.