O’Keefe Controls Co. Precision Orifices: The Ultimate Solution when Precision Flow Control is Paramount
Precision Orifices are apertures designed to restrict the flow of air, water, or other fluids. Often circular in shape, precision orifices have tightly controlled diameters, lengths, and inlet and outlet geometries. In some cases, flow rates can be specified instead of orifice diameter allowing the user to customize a precision orifice to best suit their application. This can be particularly important when specifying test standards for leak testing applications.
Precision orifices are available in many materials, including metal, plastic, and synthetic sapphire, just to name a few. This variety of materials allows for precision orifices that meet a wide range of pressure, temperature, chemical compatibility, and weight considerations. Metal orifices often address higher temperature and pressure requirements. Other materials are light-weight and perhaps better suited for handheld instrument applications.
OโKeefe Controls Co. offers a full range of precision orifices that work in a wide variety of applications and environments. Our standard and custom orifices are available in diameters as small as 0.0003 inches.ย
Each Part Manufactured to Strict Quality Standards
Precision orifices have the vital function of facilitating accurate flow control and metering, across a broad spectrum of liquid and gas process flows.ย Bottom line: you need the parts to work exactly as specified.ย
With our customers in mind, we make certain our parts are reliable, repeatable, and offer long-lasting performance in a wide variety of pressure and temperature conditions.ย
Precision fabrication ensures optimal operation for the overall system.ย At OโKeefe Controls Co., we incorporate the following measures into our production processes to ensure high-quality products:
โข CAD drawingย ย โข Laser markingย ย โข Optical measuring
โข Automated optical inspectionย ย โข Flow testing
Metal Orifices
Sapphire Orifices
MICRO-ORIFICESยฎ
Watch Our Video: Precision Orifices Overview
Across a broad spectrum of industrial liquid and gas processes, O’Keefe Controls Co. Precision Orifices fulfill the vital function of facilitating accurate, repeatable flow control and metering.
Our 2-minute video describes the various types manufactured and the wide range of connections and configurations available.
Sizes are offered in diameters as small as 0.0003 inches.
Metal Orifices
Metal orifices provide superior control in a fluid system. Metal orifices can be used with a wide variety of fluids, liquid or gas. They can be used in a wide range of pressure and temperature applications. The different metals available allow for a wide range of chemical configurability.
Typical Applications of Metal Orifices
โข Precision flow control – gases or liquids
โข Speed controls – cylinders and actuators
โข Pneumatic or hydraulic circuits
โข Flow restriction
โข Accurate throttling
โข Snubbers – gages and instruments
โข Ultrasonic sound sources
Features of Metal Orifices
โข Wide range of pressures and temperatures
โข Bi-directional flow
โข Repeatable orifice size and shape
โข Predictable flow rate
โข NIST traceable flow data available
O’Keefe Controls Co. Metal Orifices Connection Options
OโKeefe Controls produces metal orifices in an ever-expanding portfolio of connection options.
1. NPT Connections: NPT hex nipples, adapters, bleed plugs, and 90ยฐ elbows.
2. Barb Connections: Dual barb, adapter barbs, and adapter barbs with NPT or 10-32 UNF thread.
3. 10-32 UNF Connections: 10-32 UNF bleed plugs, 10-32 UNF adapters, and 10-32 UNF couplers.
4. SAE Connections: SAE 45ยฐ flare adapters and 37ยฐ flare adapters.
5. Press-Fit Inserts: Available in a range of outside diameters and length and materials.
6. Push-On Tube Adapters: 10-32 UNF, 1/8โ NPT, or 1/4โ NPT by 1/8โ OD, 5/32โ OD, 3/16โ OD, 1/4โ OD tubing.ย
7. Threaded Inserts: 6-32, 8-32, 10-32, 1/4-20, 5/16-18, 3/8-16 threaded inserts and M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, and M10 metric threaded inserts
8. Face Seal Fittings: Gaskets and double male unions.
9. Compression Fittings: NPT x Tube, tube unions, tube union tees, tube adapters, port connectors, and tube stubs.
10. JIC Connections: JIC 37ยฐ flare adapters and SAE 45ยฐ x NPT adapter.
11. Straight Thread O-Ring Fittings
Call us to ask about Metal Orifices for your application: 203.261.6711
Features of Sapphire Orifices
โข Sizes ranging from 0.0012โ to 0.0252โย in diameter
โข Chemically inertย
โข Highly repeatable
Sapphire Orifices
Our sapphire orifices use a synthetic sapphire material to provide stable and accurate flow restriction. This material makes the orifices far more resistant to heat and pressure, as well as the wear and corrosion that can start to weaken other materials over time. Sapphire orifices are available in 32 incremental sizes ranging from 0.0012 inches to 0.0252 inches in diameter.
Typical Applications of Sapphire Orifices
โข Precision flow control – gases or liquids
โข Accurate timing in pneumatic or hydraulic circuits
โข Pressure dividing circuits and pneumatic resistance bridges
โข Impedance matching
O’Keefe Controls Co. Sapphire Orifices Connection Options
OโKeefe Controls produces metal orifices in an ever-expanding portfolio of connection options.
1. NPT Connections: Brass and stainless steel NPT connections with synthetic sapphire orifices.
2. Barb x 10-32: Orifices with a barb fitting for a tight seal and a maximum pressure of 100 PSIG.
3. Barb x NPT thread: Stainless steel orifices with a barb fitting for a tight seal and a maximum pressure of 100 PSIG.
4. Dual Barb: Connections with two barbs for secure fittings in systems that required barbed connections.
5. 10-32 UNF connections: Brass connections with straight threads available in incremental measurements.
6. SAE Connections -JIC Fitting- 37 Degree Flared Tube
Connector: Connections in 304 stainless steel and brass with 100 PSIG maximum fitting pressure and 100 PSID maximum differential pressure.
7. Compression Connections: Connections with compression endings available in 316 stainless steel and incremental measurements.
8. Compression – Tube Union: Tube unions available in different cylinder sizes in 316 stainless steel.
9. Press-Fit Inserts with various ODโs and lengths.
Call us to ask about Sapphire Orifices for your application: 203.261.6711
Precision MICRO-ORIFICESยฎ
OโKeefe Controls Co.โs line of precision MICRO-ORIFICESยฎ are available in stainless steel and brass varieties, in incremental sizes between 0.0003โ0.005 inches in diameter.ย
MICRO-ORIFICESยฎ are typically used for systems with very low flow rates. The small openings allow for a suitable amount of pressure buildup in the fluid system to facilitate accurate control. The parts offer accurate timing in systems that use pneumatic or hydraulic circuits, as well as precision metering. They can also limit flow.
Typical Applications of MICRO-ORIFICESยฎ
โข Systems with low flow rates
โข Systems that use pneumatic or hydraulic circuits
โข Flow restriction
โข Leak test standards
โข Custom flow rates
โข Calibration standards
Features of Precision MICRO-ORIFICESยฎ
โข Wide range of pressures and temperatures
โข Bi-directional flow
โข Extremely accurate; high performance
โข Predictable flow rate
โข NIST traceable flow data available
โข Optional filter screens available for added protection of the orifice
O’Keefe Controls Co. MICRO-ORIFICESยฎ Connection Options
OโKeefe Controls produces metal orifices in an ever-expanding portfolio of connection options.
1. NPT Connections: Connection pieces with tapered threads that include an internal orifice.
2. 10-32 UNF Connections: Seals made from brass or 303 stainless steel with Viton seals.
3. Barb Connections: Fittings with a barbed tip that can be used with elastomeric tubing.
4. Press-Fit Inserts: Orifices that can be pressed fit into valves or manifolds.
5. Compression Tubes: Smooth tube fittings that can be used with compression fittings.
Call us to ask about MICRO-ORIFICESยฎ for your application: 203.261.6711
For a detailed review of Standard Conditions, see our whitepaper on our Resources page.
Call us to get your technical questions answered: 203.261.6711
Standard Conditions in Flow Measurement
The Standard Cubic Foot
The flow of gases is traditionally measured in volumetric units such as cubic feet, liters or cubic centimeters. However, since gases are compressible fluids, total mass contained in a given volume varies with both the temperature and pressure of the gas. To provide a meaningful reference for volumetric flow measurements, a โstandardโ set of conditions are defined for temperature and pressure of the gas. Unfortunately, the definition of standard conditions varies slightly in technical disciplines and industry groups.ย
Standard Conditions Used By OโKeefe Controls Co.
The flow charts available in our catalogs, website or product level detail present flow data using the standard conditions of 70ยบF and 14.7 psia. The instrumentation used in Quality Assurance flow testing or data presentation per customer request is also provided using these same standard conditions: 70ยบF and 14.7 psia.
Using Other Standard Conditions? Technical Customer Support Availableย
If you are using instrumentation that references other standard conditions, the OโKeefe Controls Co. technical team can assist with temperature or pressure correction factors to ensure alignment of flow values between the two systems.
Our experienced customer service and technical support personnel can also recommend the best material and configurations for your application requirements from our wide range of precision orifices products: Metal Orifices, Sapphire Orifices or MICRO-ORIFICESยฎ.ย
Additional Information
Please visit our Resources page for whitepapers and technical information relating to Precision Orifices and flow data.
Call us to get your technical questions answered: 203.261.6711
Used Worldwide for Precision Flow Control
Precision orifices manufactured by OโKeefe Controls Co. are designed to ensure accurate, repeatable, and exact flow through the orifice. This enables us to help companies worldwide when precision is most needed in flow control โ whether liquid or gas. Our precision orifices pass stringent quality control testing to ensure they operate exactly as specified, with consistent performance.ย
With a quality management system that isย ISO 9001:2015 registered, all processes are held to the highest standards of quality.ย But perhaps of even greater benefit to our customers, the engineers at OโKeefe Controls Co. are technical experts in the field โ knowledgeable about not only our products, but also the science behind their use. As such, we are able to assist customers in diverse practical applications across the industrial, analytical and medical sciences landscape. In all we do, we stand proudly by our tagline: If itโs about precision, itโs OโKeefe.