ASME MFC MFC-3M

-3M 2004-
[Revision of ASME MFC-3M-1989 (R1995)]

Measurement
of Fluid Flow
in Pipes Using
Orifice,
Orifice, Nozzle,
and Ventu
enturi
ri

 A N A M E R I C A N N A T I O N A L S T A N D A R D
  ASME MFC-3M–2004
[Revision of ASME MFC-3M–1989 (R1995 )]

Measurement
of Fluid Flow
in Pipes Using 
Orifice, Nozzle,
and Venturi

 A N A M E R I C A N N A T I O N A L S T A N D A R D

Three Park Avenue • New York, NY 10016

 Date of Issuance: August 15, 2005

The 2004 edition of this Standard is being issued with an automatic addenda subscription service. The
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 CONTENTS

Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Committee Roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Correspondence With the MFC Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Part 1 General  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1-1 Scope and Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1-2 References and Related Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1-3 Symbols and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1-4 Principles of the Method of Measurement and Computation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1-5 General Requirements for Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1-6 Installation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1-7 Uncertainties in the Measurement of Flow Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Figure
1-1 “Triple-T” Arrangement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Table
1-1 Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Nonmandatory Appendices
1A Iterative Computations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1B Examples of Values of Pipe Wall Uniform Equivalent Roughness, k   . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1C Flow Conditioners and Flow Straighteners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Part 2 Orifice Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2-1 Scope and Field of Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2-2 References and Related Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2-3 Principles of the Method of Measurement and Computation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2-4 Orifice Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2-5 Installation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Figures
2-1 Standard Orifice Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2-2 Orifice Plate Flatness Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
2-3 Spacing of Pressure Taps for Orifice Plates with D and D/2 Pressure Taps
or Flange Taps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
2-4 Corner Taps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2-5 Layout Including a Full Bore Valve for   = 0.6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
2-6 Examples of Acceptable Installations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2-7 19-Tube Bundle Flow Straightener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
2-8 Examples of Installations With a 19-Tube Bundle Flow Straightener
Downstream of a Single Bend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
2-9 Zanker Flow Conditioner Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Tables
2-1 Maximum Value of 104 Ra/D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
2-2 Minimum Value of 104 Ra/D (When Required) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
2-3 Required Straight Lengths Between Orifice Plates and Fittings Without
Flow Conditioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
2-4 Permitted Range of Straight Lengths Between Orifice Plate and 19-Tube
Bundle Flow Straightener (1998) Downstream of Fittings Located at Distance,
L f , From the Orifice Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Nonmandatory Appendix 
2A Tables of Discharge Coefficients and Expansibility Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Part 3 Nozzles and Venturi Nozzles  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
3-1 Scope and Field of Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
3-2 References and Related Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
3-3 Principles of the Method of Measurement and Computation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
3-4 Nozzles and Venturi Nozzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
3-5 Installation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Figures
3-1 ISA 1932 Nozzle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
3-2 Long Radius Nozzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
3-3 Venturi Nozzle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
3-4 Venturi Nozzle, Pressure Taps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
3-5 Pressure Loss Across a Venturi Nozzle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
3-6 Layout Including a Full Bore Valve for   0.6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 62
3-7 Examples of Acceptable Installations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Tables
3-1 Upper Limits of Relative Roughness of the Upstream Pipe for ISA 1932 Nozzles . . . 52
3-2 Upper Limits of Relative Roughness of the Upstream Pipe for Venturi Nozzles . . . . 58
3-3 Required Straight Lengths for Nozzles and Venturi Nozzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Nonmandatory Appendix 
3A Tables of Discharge Coefficients and Expansibility Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Part 4  Venturi Meters  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
4-1 Scope and Field of Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
4-2 References and Related Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
4-3 Principles of the Method of Measurement and Computation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
4-4 ASME Venturi Tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
4-5 Installation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Figures
4-1 Geometric Profile of the ASME Venturi Tube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
4-2 Pressure Loss Across an ASME Venturi Tube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
4-3 Layout Including a Full Bore Valve for   = 0.6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
4-4 Examples of Acceptable Installations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Table
4-1 Required Straight Lengths for Classical Venturi Tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Nonmandatory Appendices
4A Tables of Expansibility Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
4B ASME Venturi Meters Used Outside the Scope of MFC-3M–2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
4C Pressure Loss in ASME Venturi Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
 FOREWORD

The purpose of this Standard is to provide guidance and recommendations in the applications
of fluid flow in pipes using orifice, nozzle, and venturi meters. This Standard was prepared by
MFC Subcommittee 2 of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Standards Committee on
Measurement of Fluid Flow in Closed Conduits.
As of the publication of this Standard, differential producers are the single most-used method
of full-pipe flow measurement in the United States and worldwide. By utilizing simple physical
laws, differential-producing flow meters are capable of providing reliable flow measurement
within established uncertainty bands.
The first edition of this Standard was approved by the ASME MFC Standards Committee in
1985. The MFC Standards Committee approved the second edition of this Standard in 1989, and
reaffirmed it in 1995. This revision, approved by the MFC Standards Committee in 2004, includes
extensive changes to content and format from the MFC-3M–1989 (R1995) edition.
Given the global nature of the flow measurement market, this Standard is as consistent and
technically equivalent with ISO 5167 as practical. There are, however, technical and editorial dif-
ferences made in consideration of recent technical insights and operational practices common in
the United States.
This Standard provides information in both SI (metric) units and U.S. Customary units. For
reference, U.S. Customary units are shown in parentheses.
Suggestions for improvement to this Standard are welcome. They should be sent to Secretary,
ASME MFC Standards Committee, Three Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016-5990.
This edition of the Standard was approved by the American National Standards Institute on
April 30, 2004.
  ASME MFC COMMITTEE
Measurement of Fluid Flow in Closed Conduits
(The following is the roster of the Committee at the time of approval of this Standard.)

OFFICERS

Z. D. Husain, Chair 
R. J. DeBoom, Vice Chair 
R. L. Crane, Secretary 

COMMITTEE PERSONNEL

C. J. Blechinger, Consultant
R. W. Caron, Visteon Corp.
G. P. Corpron, Consultant
R. L. Crane, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
R. J. DeBoom, Consultant
P. G. Espina, Controlotron Corp.
D. Faber, Badger Meter, Inc.
R. H. Fritz, Lonestar Measurement
F. D. Goodson, Emerson Process
Z. D. Husain, Chevron Texaco
E. H. Jones, Jr., Alternate, Chevron Petroleum Technologies
C. G. Langford, Cullen G. Langford, Inc.
W. M. Mattar, Invensys / Foxboro Co.
G. E. Mattingly, National Institute of Standards and Technology
D. R. Mesnard, FMC Measurement Solutions
R. W. Miller, R. W. Miller and Associates, Inc.
 A. M. Quraishi, American Gas Association
B. K. Rao, Consultant
W. F. Seidl, Colorado Engineering Experiment Station, Inc.
T. M. Kegel, Alternate, Colorado Engineering Experiment Station, Inc.
D. W. Spitzer, Copperhill and Pointer, Inc.
R. N. Steven, McCrometer
D. H. Strobel, Consultant
 J. H. Vignos, Consultant
D. E. Wiklund, Rosemount, Inc.
D. C. Wyatt, Wyatt Engineering and Design

SUBCOMMITTEE 3—PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL DEVICES

D. C. Wyatt,  Chair, Wyatt Engineering

R. L. Crane, Secretary, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
R. M. Bough, Allison Engine Co.
R. H. Fritz, Lonestar Measurement
F. G. Goodson, Emerson Process
Z. D. Husain, Chevron Texaco
M. P. McHale, McHale and Associates Inc.
R. J. W. Peters, McCrometer
 A. M. Quraishi, American Gas Association
W. F. Seidl, Colorado Engineering
D. W. Spitzer, Copperhill and Pointer, Inc.
R. N. Steven, McCrometer
 J. W. Stuart, Stuart Gas Measurement Consulting
S. H. Taha, Experflow Measurement, Inc.
D. E. Wiklund, Rosemount, Inc.
 CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE MFC COMMITTEE

General. ASME Standards are developed and maintained with the intent to represent the con-
sensus of concerned interests. As such, users of this Standard may interact with the Committee
 by requesting interpretations, proposing revisions, and attending committee meetings. Corre-
spondence should be addressed to:
Secretary, MFC Standards Committee
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Three Park Avenue
New York, NY 10016-5990
Proposing Revisions. Revisions are made periodically to the Standard to incorporate changes
that appear necessary or desirable, as demonstrated by the experience gained from the applica-
tion of the Standard. Approved revisions will be published periodically.
The Committee welcomes proposals for revisions to this Standard. Such proposals should be
as specific as possible, citing the paragraph number(s), the proposed wording, and a detailed de-
scription of the reasons for the proposal, including any pertinent documentation.
Interpretations. Upon request, the MFC Committee will render an interpretation of any re-
quirement of the Standard. Interpretations can only be rendered in response to a written request
sent to the Secretary of the MFC Standards Committee.
The request for interpretation should be clear and unambiguous. It is further recommended
that the inquirer submit his/her request in the following format:
Subject: Cite the applicable paragraph number(s) and the topic of the inquiry.
Edition: Cite the applicable edition of the Standard for which the interpretation is be-
ing requested.
Question: Phrase the question as a request for an interpretation of a specific require-
ment suitable for general understanding and use, not as a request for an ap-
proval of a proprietary design or situation. The inquirer may also include any
plans or drawings that are necessary to explain the question; however, they
should not contain proprietary names or information.
Requests that are not in this format will be rewritten in this format by the Committee prior to
 being answered, which may inadvertently change the intent of the original request.
ASME procedures provide for reconsideration of any interpretation when or if additional in-
formation that might affect an interpretation is available. Further, persons aggrieved by an in-
terpretation may appeal to the cognizant ASME Committee or Subcommittee. ASME does not
“approve,” “certify,” “rate,” or “endorse” any item, construction, proprietary device, or activity.
 Attending Committee Meetings. The MFC Standards Committee regularly holds meetings,
which are open to the public. Persons wishing to attend any meeting should contact the Secre-
tary of the MFC Standards Committee.
  ASME MFC-3M–2004

MEASUREMENT OF FLUID FLOW IN PIPES

USING ORIFICE, NOZZLE, AND VENTURI

Part 1
General
1-1 SCOPE AND APPLICATION (a) orifice plates (Part 2) that can be used with the fol-
lowing pressure tap arrangements:
This Standard specifies the geometry and method of  (1) flange pressure taps
use (installation and operating conditions) for pressure (2) corner pressure taps
differential devices (including, but not limited to, orifice (3) D and D/2 pressure taps
plates, flow nozzles, and venturi tubes) when installed (b) nozzles (Part 3), each of which differs in the fol-
in a closed conduit running full and used to determine lowing shape and position of the pressure taps:
the flow-rate of the fluid flowing in the conduit. This (1) ASME long radius nozzles
Standard applies to pressure differential devices in (2) Venturi nozzles
which the flow remains subsonic throughout the meas- (3) ISA 1932 nozzles
uring section and where the fluid is considered as (c) ASME venturi tubes (Part 4), also known as Hers-
single-phase. The Standard is limited to single-phase chel or classical venturi tubes
Newtonian fluid flow in which the flow can be consid- Part 1 of this Standard contains general material such
ered sufficiently free from pulsation effects. It gives in- as definitions, symbols, and principles that apply to all the
formation for calculating the flow-rate and the associated devices covered in Parts 2, 3, and 4 of this Standard with
uncertainty when each of these devices is used within respect to the flow measurement of any single phase fluid.
specified limits of pipe size and Reynolds number. This Standard does not apply to ASME Performance
This Standard covers flow meters that operate on the Test Code measurements. This Standard does not ad-
principle of a local change in flow velocity and/or flow dress those devices that operate on the principle of crit-
parameters caused by meter geometry, resulting in a ical or choked flow condition of fluids. This Standard
corresponding change of pressure between two set lo- does not address issues of safety. It is the responsibility
cations. Although there are several types of differential of the user to ensure that all systems conform to appli-
pressure meters available, it is the purpose of this Stan- cable safety requirements and regulations.
dard to address the applications of each meter and not
to endorse any specific meter. The operating principle 1-2 REFERENCES AND RELATED DOCUMENTS
of a pressure differential flow meter is based on two
physical laws: conservation of energy and conservation Unless indicated otherwise, the latest issue of a refer-
of mass, realized when changes in flow cross-sectional ence standard shall be used.
area and/or flow path result in a change of pressure. ASME B36.10, Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe
This differential pressure, in turn, is a function of the ASME MFC-1M, Glossary of Terms Used in the Mea-
flow velocity, fluid path, and fluid properties. surement of Fluid Flow in Pipes
Included within the scope of this Standard are devices ASME MFC-2M, Measurement of Uncertainty for Fluid
for which direct calibration experiments have been Flow in Closed Conduits
made, sufficient in number and data coverage, to enable ASME MFC-8M, Fluid Flow in Closed Conduits—Con-
valid systems of application to be based on their results nections for Pressure Signal Transmission Between
and coefficients to be given with known uncertainties. Primary and Secondary Devices
The devices installed in the pipe are referred to as  pri- ASME PTC 6, Steam Turbines
mary devices,  primary elements, or simply,  primaries. The ASME PTC 19.5, Flow Measurement
primary device may also include the associated upstream Publisher: The American Society of Mechanical Engi-
and downstream piping. The other instruments required neers (ASME), Three Park Avenue, New York, NY
for the flow measurement are often referred to as sec- 10016-5990; Order Department: 22 Law Drive, Box
ondary devices or secondaries. For further information on 2300, Fairfield, NJ 07007-2300
secondary instrumentation, see ASME/ANSI MFC-8M. ISO 3313, The Effect of Flow Pulsation on Flow Mea-
The different primary elements covered in this Stan- suring Instruments: Orifice Plates, Nozzles, or Ven-
dard are as follows: turi Tubes, Turbine and Vortex Flow Meters