Pipefitter Star Practice Exam 2025 - Free Pipefitter Exam Questions and Study Guide

The correct positioning of the beveled edge of an orifice plate is crucial for accurate flow measurement and minimizing pressure loss. Installing the bevel downstream helps to ensure that fluid flows smoothly over the orifice, reducing turbulence and promoting laminar flow through the opening.

When the beveled edge is oriented downstream, it allows the fluid to exit the orifice more efficiently, which assists in better measurements of pressure differential across the orifice, ultimately leading to more accurate flow calculations. This setup is important because a properly installed orifice plate can prevent flow disturbances that would affect performance and data reliability.

Options suggesting the bevel should be oriented upstream or either direction do not account for the specific aerodynamic principles at play, which dictate that the bevel should always face downstream to optimize flow characteristics. Knowing this improves both the accuracy of the readings taken and the overall efficiency of the system in which the orifice plate is installed.