Fluidlexikon

Clogging behaviour of orifices

Orifices have different tendencies to accumulate contaminations in the pressure fluid. This changes the flow characteristics, and the orifice may become completely clogged under certain circumstances.

In general, the tendency to clog becomes greater as the circumference of the orifice increases in relation to the cross-sectional area. Therefore, for example circular ring cross-sections (needle throttle) are less favourable than triangular cross-sections.