AGA-3 ORIFICE (API Chapter 14.3.

1) – iPhone App - Documentation

DISCLAIMER – AGREEMENT
Users of ‘AGA-3 Orifice’ must accept this disclaimer of warranty:
THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE DEVELOPER/AUTHOR BE HELD LIABLE FOR
ANY LOSS OF PROFIT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR OTHER SIMILAR CLAIMS.

Physical Properties
Standard conditions for AGA-3 Orifice are defined according to US Customary system as 60 °F (15.56
°C) and 14.73 Psia (1.0156 Bara). Customary units (US) (Temp = °F, Pressure = Psia) and SI-units
(Temp = °C, Pressure = Bara) are supported. Pseudo-critical and pseudo-reduced properties are used in
the app.

The AGA-8 equation-of-state1 (EOS) is used for calculating compressibility (Z-factor) and the Real
isentropic coefficient for natural gas, while the Redlich-Kwong (RK-EOS)2 is used for air and nitrogen. The
RK-EOS only depends on critical pressure and temperature for calculations, and therefore does not
include knowledge of individual components in the gas mixture. Other physical properties are calculated
from common empirical equations from the oil and gas industry (viscosity, specific heat capacity and
critical properties3).

Gas Orifice Calculations

Orifice calculations are based on the American Gas Association AGA report No. 3 (same as API Manual
of Petroleum Measurement Standards, Chapter 14.3)4. The user can select calculation of Flowrate
(known orifice size), Orifice Size (known flowrate) or Pressure Drop across the orifice (known flowrate and
orifice diameter). The calculations are performed according to the standard depending on tapping type,
either Pipe or Flange taps. Calculations are performed for Natural Gas (provided Specific Gravity), Air or
Nitrogen. In addition, orifice material is used for adjusting the sizing parameter of the orifice depending
on temperature.

Orifice Meters with Flange Taps:

The fundamental orifice meter flow equation is4:

𝑄𝑚 = 359.072 𝐶𝑑 (𝐹𝑇)𝐸𝑌𝑑 2 √𝜌𝑃1 ℎ𝑤

where
Qm = mass flow rate (lbm/h)
Cd(FT) = coefficient of discharge for flange tapped orifice meters = F c + Fsl
Fc = orifice calculation factor
Fsl = orifice slope factor
E = velocity of approach factor
Y = expansion factor (upstream tap)
d = orifice plate bore diameter
 = density of fluid at upstream flowing conditions, lb m/ft3

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 hw = orifice differential pressure, inches H2O at 60 F

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The general practice is to express the flow in ft /h at some defined standard condition. For gas this can
be done by using the orifice flow constant as described in Annex B of the Standard is used:

Qv  C * P1hw
where
Qv = volumetric flowrate (Scf/hr)
C* = orifice flow constant = Fn(Fc + Fsl) Y1FpbFtbFtfFgrFpvFzb
Fn = numeric conversion factor = 338.196 x E v x d2
Ev = velocity of approach factor = (1-ß4)-0.5
Y1 = expansion factor (upstream tap) = 1 – (0.3625+0.1027xβ4+1.1320xβ8) x {1 –
[P2/P1]1/κ}
ß = diameter ratio, (d/D)
κ = isentropic coefficient
P1, P2 = pressure at upstream tap and downstream tap respectively, psia
Fpb = base pressure factor
Ftb = base temperature factor
Ftf = flowing temperature factor
Fgr = real gas relative density factor
Fpv = supercompressibility factor
Fzb = compressibility at base conditions divide by compressibility at standard
conditions = Zb/Zs
ß = diameter ratio, (d/D)
κ = isentropic coefficient
P1, P2 = pressure at upstream tap and downstream tap respectively, psia
hw = orifice differential pressure, inches H2O at 60 oF

The coefficient of discharge used in the standard, C d(FT) was developed by Reader-Harris/Gallagher
(RG) and is given by4:
Cd(FT) = Fc + Fsl
where
Fc = 0.5961+ 0.0291 × ß2 - 0.2290 × ß8 + [0.0433 + 0.0712 e -8.5L1 – 0.1145 e -6.0L1] x (1
– 0.23×(19,000×ß/ReD)0.8) x β4/(1 – β4) - 0.0116 × {2/[D×(1-ß)] - 0.52 × (2/[D×(1-
ß)])1.3}×ß1.1 × {1 - 0.14×(19,000×ß/ReD)0.8}
Fsl = 0.000511 x (1,000,000×ß/ReD)0.7+{0.0210+0.0049×(19,000×ß/ReD)0.8}×ß4
× (1,000,000/ReD)0.35
ReD = Reynolds number for the pipe, dimensionless = 𝜌1 𝑣𝐷/
v = fluid velocity, ft/sec
D = pipe diameter, ft
 = viscosity, lb/ft sec
L1 = dimensionless correction factor for tap location = 1/D for flange taps

Variables without subscripts, Z, T, P1, and P2 refer to actual flowing conditions.

If pipe diameter is less than 2.8 inches, the orifice calculation factor is modified as follows:

Fc = Fc + 0.003 × (1-ß) × (2.8 - D)

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Orifice Meters with Pipe Taps:

Current AGA/API Standard does not contain details of pipe tap orifice metering, but refer to the 1992
Standard (3rd Edition), which is used in this app:

Qv  C * P1hw

C* = orifice flow constant = FbFr Y1FpbFtbFtfFgrFpv

Fb = basic orifice factor = 338.178d2 K0
Fr = Reynolds number factor = 1 + E/ReD
K0 = coefficient of discharge at infinite Reynolds number
= Ke/[1 + 15 x E/1,000,000/d
Ke = coefficient of discharge when Reynolds number = 1,000,000 x d/15
= 0.5925+0.0182/D+(0.44 - 0.06/D)×ß2+(0.935 + 0.225/D)×ß5 + 1.35×ß14
+ (1.43/D0.5)×(0.25 - ß)2.5
E = d×(905 - 5000×ß+ 9000×ß2 - 4200×ß3 + 875/D)
Y1 = expansion factor (upstream tap) = 1 – (0.3625+0.1027xβ4+1.1320xβ8) x {1 – [P2/P1]1/κ}
ß = diameter ratio, (d/D)
κ = isentropic coefficient

The other factors Y1, Fpb, Ftb, Ftf, Fgr, and Fpv are defined above.

From K0 and Ke above it can be shown that the discharge coefficient at any Reynolds number is:

K = Ko x (1 + E/ReD)

Orifice Limitations
For specifications regarding tolerances and restrictions to the orifices themselves, length of pipe
preceding and following the orifice, and tapping points, please check the standard.
The beta ratio (orifice to tube diameter ratio) for AGA is limited as follows:

Flange taps: 0.15 < ß < 0.7

Pipe taps: 0.20 < ß < 0.67

The limitations on pipe diameters or nominal bore lines, D, and orifice diameters are:

1.667 in < ID < 29.25 in

2.0 in < D < 30 in

0.25 in < d < 21.5 in

References
1. Miller, R.W., "Flow Measurement Engineering Handbook", 3rd Ed., McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.,
New York, NY (1996) 2-30 – 2-37.

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2. Edmister, W.C. and Lee, B.I., "Applied Hydrocarbon Thermodynamics", Vol. 1, 2nd Ed., Gulf
Publishing Co., Houston, TX (1984) 47-49. 


3. "Phase Behavior", Reprint Series, SPE, Dallas (1981), 15, 52-63 and 211-223. 


4. "Orifice Metering of Natural Gas and other related Hydrocarbon Fluids – Concentric, Square-edged
Orifice Meters”. Part 3 - Natural Gas Applications, American Gas Association AGA Report No. 3 –
Part 3 (API Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards, Chapter 14.3.1), 4th Edition,
Washington, D.C. (2013).