Discharging Through an Orifice Determines Steam-Water Enthalpy

A wide range of steam-water mixtures was discharged to the atmosphere through a 10.7 mm diameter orifice which was sharp-edged with a minuscule throat pressure tapping. The ratio of throat pressure to up-stream pressure was found sensitive to dryness fraction over the whole range studied from 0.03 to 1.0. The technique (employing large orifices) has the potential of identifying the unknown enthalpy of geothermal wells discharging large flows. Contrariwise, a nozzle (rounded entry orifice) was found remarkably _insensitive_ over most of the dryness range and hence is useless for such determinations; however, it can be used to measure the flow-rate when enthalpy is known. 2 figs., 7 refs