In high differential pressure liquid systems, engineers commonly use multi-stage restriction orifice assemblies to reduce pressure in stages and help manage cavitation, noise, vibration, and downstream piping damage.
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The video below shows how pressure recovery behavior can determine whether cavitation energy is released into the downstream piping or managed before it becomes a pipe-damaging problem.
A multi-stage assembly can require additional pipe length, flange sets, and installation space. The Anti-Cavitate Orifice Plate™ is designed to manage high pressure drop within a single device installed between standard flanges.
A multi-stage restriction orifice assembly spreads pressure reduction across multiple plates separated by intervening pipe spool sections. The objective is to allow partial pressure recovery between stages so that no individual plate creates a pressure profile severe enough to produce damaging cavitation.
This is a well-established engineering approach for severe pressure reduction service. When properly designed and given sufficient straight-pipe length, staged assemblies can perform effectively across a wide range of industrial liquid systems.
The engineering challenge is often not whether staged assemblies work. The challenge is whether the available piping system can physically support them.
For some systems, the required straight-pipe real estate becomes the primary design constraint.
Restrict Flow's Anti-Cavitate Orifice Plate™ is designed to manage high differential pressure liquid service within a single device installed between existing flanges.
Conceptually, the difference between a conventional flat restriction plate and the Anti-Cavitate Orifice Plate™ is where pressure recovery occurs. In a conventional flat plate, pressure recovery occurs in the downstream piping. If the local pressure profile crosses below vapor pressure, cavitation bubbles can form and collapse downstream as pressure recovers.
The Anti-Cavitate Orifice Plate™ is designed so that pressure recovery is managed within the device envelope itself rather than relying on downstream pipe length to recover the pressure field. The downstream piping sees a more stable recovered pressure field instead of a pressure field recovering downstream of the device.
This approach allows Restrict Flow to evaluate whether the same pressure reduction objective can be achieved without requiring a long staged assembly.
For applications where a compact single-device approach is preferred, manage high pressure drop in a single stage installed between standard flanges.
The Anti-Cavitate Orifice Plate™ is designed to install between standard flanges without requiring major piping reconfiguration. Depending on the service conditions, this can reduce axial footprint, piping complexity, flange count, inspection points, maintenance exposure, and installation difficulty.
Cavitation is often identified in the field long before it is formally diagnosed.
In many systems, what initially appears to be a vibration or piping issue is ultimately tied to how pressure reduction is occurring through the flow path. For a broader explanation of how cavitation develops in liquid piping systems, see our cavitation in piping systems overview.
Restrict Flow supports severe-service liquid applications where pressure drop, cavitation risk, space constraints, or maintenance complexity are key design concerns.
If your system is experiencing any of the following, Restrict Flow can review the application and evaluate the operating conditions:
