International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development

The standard method of determining the liquid pressure recovery factor, 𝐹௅ , which is effectively the ratio of choked to non-choked flow for some condition, involves testing a valve in choked flow conditions to determine the value of the flow coefficient, 𝐶௩௖ , and comparing that value to the value of 𝐶௩ in nonchoked flow. The standard test procedure is difficult to follow with high-performance, pressure-regulating valves, which have capacities of flow and pressure far above many laboratories’ capabilities. The author investigated an alternative method to obtain the term 𝐹௅ and presents the findings in this technical report. Laboratory testing was accomplished using a 2-inch standard pipe test bench with orifice plates, a butterfly valve, a globe valve, and a Venturi. Two tests were performed, the industry standard inline test and the new method of determining the value of 𝐶௩, free-discharge to simulate choked flow. The use of orifice plates, a Venturi meter and different valve designs were used to provide different levels of pressure loss, which impose different losses based on their geometry. The values of 𝐹௅ between the two methods had little variation, with the largest difference happening with the Venturi meter. Due to the Venturi’s geometry, the pressure quickly recovered, which made the calculation and determination of 𝐶௩ and 𝐹௅ difficult for the standard and the hypothesized tests. The application of the hypothesized method appears to work well for devices which do not have built-in pressure recovery means (i.e. in the case of the Venturi meter a pressure recovery cone). The flow control devices which induce flow seperation had the best agreement between the values of 𝐹௅.

Bryson Parker, Michael C. Johnson, Zachary B. Sharp, "Alternate Method for Determining The Liquid Pressure Recovery Factor" International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development, V9(4): Page(240-249) May-June 2026. ISSN: 2581-7175. www.ijsred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.