What is the primary use of an orifice plate in a piping system?

An orifice plate is primarily used to create a pressure drop in a piping system, which is crucial for measuring the flow rate of the fluid passing through the pipe. When fluid flows through the orifice, the restriction caused by the plate leads to a decrease in pressure and an increase in fluid velocity as it passes through the narrowed opening. This change in pressure can be accurately measured and correlated to flow rate using flow equations derived from Bernoulli's principle.

The orifice plate acts as a flow measurement device, where the difference in pressure across the plate (the differential pressure) is what allows operators to determine how much fluid is flowing through the system. This functionality is essential in various industrial applications, such as in water treatment plants, power plants, and chemical processes, where monitoring and controlling flow is critical for operational efficiency and safety.

In contrast, options that suggest enhancing thermal conductivity or allowing unrestricted flow do not align with the primary function of the orifice plate, which is to act as a measurement tool that relies on creating a pressure differential. Additionally, while increasing fluid velocity occurs as a consequence of the restriction, it is not the primary purpose of the orifice plate itself.