What component restricts flow to prevent pressure buildup?

• A. Orifice plates
• B. Relief valve
• C. Strainer
• D. Check valve

Answer: (A)

The key idea is using flow restriction to control pressure. An orifice plate provides a fixed, small opening in the pipe, which creates a deliberate resistance to flow. That resistance causes a pressure drop across the plate, lowering the downstream pressure for a given flow and helping prevent pressure from rising too high in the system. It’s a simple, passive way to limit how much fluid can move and, in turn, keep pressures from building up.

Other devices do different jobs: a relief valve is meant to vent fluid if pressure goes above a set limit, not to restrict flow continuously; a strainer mainly protects equipment by filtering out debris and can add some, but incidental, pressure loss; a check valve prevents backflow rather than regulating pressure during normal operation.