There is data available in the literature showing that more accurate flow measurement of air can be obtained using fractal-shaped orifice plates. Furthermore, energy losses over the fractal orifices were less than for circular orifices of the same area. The design of energy efficient systems is becoming increasingly important, therefore the testing of fractal orifices with fluid systems is of great interest. This present study determined pressure loss and discharge coefficients for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids, for fractal shaped orifices plates.

Four short orifices, circular, triangular (0-generation), 1st generation and 2nd generation Von Koch fractal-shaped, were manufactured. The orifice plates had the same flow area as the circular orifice of equivalent diameter Deq = 26.2 mm (β = 0.57). This work provides novel experimental results on the performance of fractal orifices for Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquid flow applications. Flow measurement energy conversion efficiency of some 19% can be expected when using the fractal orifices over the standard circular geometry.

This content is only available via PDF.
You do not currently have access to this content.