An orifice plate causes a pressure drop which can be measured to calculate what?

An orifice plate operates based on the principle of differential pressure, where fluid flow rates can be estimated from the pressure drop across the plate. When fluid flows through the orifice, it constricts, causing an increase in fluid velocity and a corresponding drop in pressure. By applying Bernoulli’s equation and the orifice flow equation, the pressure difference can be directly related to the flow rate of the fluid.

Calculating flow through an orifice plate requires knowing both the pressure drop and the properties of the fluid, including its density and specific gravity. Thus, when the pressure drop is measured, it becomes possible to determine the flow rate, making flow calculation the primary purpose of measuring the pressure drop across an orifice plate.

The other options—such as pressure, which is a variable being assessed in the context of the flow measurement, temperature, and detector—are not directly calculated from the pressure drop across an orifice plate. The primary focus in this case is the relationship between flow rate and pressure drop, affirming that flow is indeed what can be calculated from the measured pressure drop.