A butterfly valve is a quarter-turn valve used to regulate flow. A metal disc in the body of the valve is positioned perpendicular to the flow in the closed position, and rotated one quarter of a turn to be parallel to the flow in the fully opened position. Intermediate rotations allow regulation of liquid flow. They are often used in agricultural and water or wastewater treatment applications and are one of the most common and well-known valve types.
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Butterfly valves are similar to ball valves but have several advantages. They are small and, when actuated pneumatically, open and close very quickly. The disc is lighter than a ball, and the valve requires less structural support than a ball valve of comparable diameter. Butterfly valves are very precise, which makes them advantageous in industrial applications. They are quite reliable and require very little maintenance.
One disadvantage of butterfly valves is that some portion of the disc is always presented to the flow, even when fully opened. The use of a butterfly valve therefore always results in a pressure switch across the valve, regardless of the setting.
Butterfly valves can be configured to operate manually, electronically or pneumatically. Pneumatic valves operate most rapidly. Electronic valves require a signal to the gearbox to open or close, while pneumatic valves can be either single or double actuated. A single-actuated valve is typically set up to require a signal to open with a failsafe, meaning that when power is lost the valve springs back to a fully closed position. Double-actuated pneumatic valves are not spring loaded and require a signal both to open and to close.
Automated pneumatic butterfly valves are both reliable and durable. Reduced wear improves the valve life cycle, which reduces operating costs otherwise lost in working hours to maintain the valves.
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A butterfly valve is a device that allows you to achieve better flow control. The design uses a metallic disc that rotates a quarter-turn at a time around a fixed-stem axis. The 90-degree turns provide quick-action control between open and closed positions. In addition, the disc is generally sized equally to the internal diameter of the adjoining pipe to give full-color capability.
Naturally, butterfly valves are manufactured in various sizes and design configurations to provide specific flow control functionality. As a result, varying applications and industries, including everything from HVAC and fire protection to slurries and sanitation.
So, when does it make sense to use a butterfly valve in your pump or vent system? Let’s take a look at butterfly valves’ advantages and disadvantages to help you make a more informed decision.
Lightweight and Compact
Butterfly valves are great for several applications because they are very lightweight and provide reasonable flow control in a compact design. You will generally want to use a metal-seated valve for more extreme fluid processing, while a soft-seated butterfly valve is best for applications with low pressures and temperatures. The butterfly disc takes up little space but offers enough strength for most pump systems.
Simple and Cost Effective
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Butterfly valves are very simple in design and have minimal maintenance requirements. They are easy to install and operate. Plus, they are typically much less expensive than a ball valve of the same size. They do not require much torque to operate effectively and can be automated for energy-efficient operation.
Quick and Efficient
The 90-degree turning radius allows for quick sealing upon actuation, which provides more accurate flow control with minimal effort to turn the valve on and off. Different butterfly valves are to consider, including zero-offset, double-offset, and triple-offset. The pressure will usually determine which type you need. The higher the offset, the more pressure the valve can handle.
Pressure Control
In addition to precision flow control, butterfly valves are excellent for pressure control. They experience minimal pressure drop during operation before the fluids recover energy quickly after leaving the valve. This keeps the pump system running efficiently with consistent fluid pressures.
Corrosion and Viscous Fluids
Viscous and corrosive fluids tend to scour against the discs of butterfly valves during operation, which can lead to rapid deterioration of the disc and loss of sealing pressure. If you are processing highly viscous liquids, you may want to consider a more robust ball valve or gate valve instead of a butterfly valve.
Cavitation and Choked Flow
When the valve is in an open position, it does not provide a complete port because of the disc. This can lead to excess debris accumulation around the valve in specific applications, cavitation concerns, or the possibility of choked flow. A ball valve may be a better solution if a full port is required.
No High-Pressure Throttling
A butterfly valve has an opening restricted between 30-80 degrees, making them efficient for low-pressure throttling applications. However, higher pressures may achieve better results with a globe valve. To learn more about butterfly valves from the leading valve manufacturers and determine if this is the correct solution for your application and pump system, contact DXP Pacific today. Let our pump experts help you find the right equipment to optimize your production.
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