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Learn about the uses, types and benefits of butterfly valves

by dutcotennantllc1
flanged butterfly valves

If you still wonder what butterfly valves are, then be with us to know about them. Butterfly valves are quarter-turn valves and are used for starting, stopping and throttling fluid flow. In terms of operation, these valves are the same as ball valves. It is best to use butterfly valves to handle large fluid volumes. There are different types of butterfly valves available such as flanged butterfly valves, wafer butterfly valves and many more. Read this post to explore more about these valves.

What are butterfly valves?

To control or stop the liquid flow, butterfly valves are used. The word “butterfly” refers to a flat & round disc which permits fluid flow through the valves. These valves come from the family of “quarter-turn”. It means fully closed to fully opened in 90° rotation. You can open or close butterfly valves through the lever, pneumatic actuator, manual gear operator or electric actuator. Usually, butterfly valves are not costly as compared to high flow valves and are less in weight. Through butterfly valves, the pressure loss is less as compared to the gate valves. The disc of valves is much lighter than the ball. The valves need less structural support than the ball valves.

What are the different uses of butterfly valves?

In the contemporary world, you can find butterfly valves with various offset discs and enhanced body material as compared to previously used valves. You can use these valves for high pressure, tight shut-off, throttling and temperature applications. Have a look at varied uses of butterfly valves:

a) For regulating fluid flow

Butterfly valves are used widely in various applications to regulate the flow of fluid. It is performed by the actuator’s action which communicates with the disc and stem of butterfly valves. Angular opening’s degree converts to the right amount of fluid flow which goes through butterfly valves and, thus the system’s flow rate is efficiently controlled via actuators. You can reach out to one of the leading suppliers of butterfly valves including wafer or flanged butterfly valves.

b) Isolating fluid flow

Butterfly valves are also used for isolating flow due to their lightweight features, quarter-turn action and simple manipulation.

c) Prevention of backflow

Some food manufacturing processes need washing down processes. Here you can use butterfly valves to prevent backflow. Backflow prevention is important because food processing plants must be totally clean.

d) Applications where space is less

Butterfly valves are space -saver, economical and less bulky. So, the system with space limitations can be beneficial from such valves as compared to ball valves. Strainers or other devices may take up large space but butterfly valves are the best kind of shut-off valves which do not need huge space, and you can easily fit them in tight spaces.

e) Gases and liquids

Be it flanged butterfly valves or wafer butterfly valves are used for handling gases and liquids along with slurries. These valves are not used for bulk solids. The reason is – dry bulk solids are coarse in nature. They can erode the seal & material of butterfly valves.

f) Industrial usage

Many industries utilize butterfly valves for several industrial processes like vacuum services, HVAC, refrigeration and air conditioning systems, agricultural and irrigation needs, lubrication, corrosive processing, petroleum industries, district heating etc.

What are the different types of butterfly valves?

Butterfly valves can be classified depending on several things:

  1. Depending on Disc Closure Design
  • Concentric Butterfly Valve
  • Eccentric Butterfly Valve
  1. Based on Piping Connection 
  • Lug type
  • Wafer Type
  • Flanged Butterfly Valve
  • Butt-welded Butterfly Valves
  1. Depending on the operation method
  • Manual Actuation
  • Lever Operated
  • Gear Operated
  1. Depending on the material of the seat
  • Metal Seated
  • Soft Seated

What are the advantages of using butterfly valves?

There are many benefits of using butterfly valves. As compared to many other valve types, butterfly valves provide the best services.

a) Butterfly valves are compact in design and need less space for installation

b) These valves are supported by any piping system easily as they are light in weight.

c) They require less closing or opening time.

d) During installation and maintenance, you will need fewer raw materials and, ultimately, operation becomes less costly.

e) Butterfly valves have low operational torque and therefore users get simple operation.

f) These types of valves are available in a wide range of various sizes.

g) They can easily recover from high -pressure.

While you order butterfly valves from the manufacturer, try to provide them with some data. They are pressure-specific gravity, flange rating, material content, viscosity, fluid composition to be tackled, needed Cv or pressure drop, operating temperature, flow rate design, seat material etc.

Conclusion:

We hope you must have got to know much about the uses, types and advantages of butterfly valves. Butterfly valves are not costly to build and have a simple operation. These valves are used in varied applications in different sectors. Butterfly valves also need less maintenance. You can reach out to one of the best suppliers of a wide range of butterfly valves that include flanged butterfly valves in the Middle East and GCC region.

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