Know Butterfly Valve and Its Advantages
Valves are devices used in piping systems to control the flow of liquids. One of the most common, the butterfly valve, consists of a disc fixed on a shaft that rotates a quarter turn to allow or halt the liquid flow. Its appeal stems from the fact that it is lightweight, sturdy, and simple to install. The valve’s simple design makes it easy to manufacture, and as a result, it is less expensive than most other valves.
These valves are pretty simple, with only four parts: a body, a seat, a disc, and a stem. The disc is usually located in the centre of the pipe and closes when it is perpendicular to the liquid flow. The stem connects to an actuator on the valve’s outside through the disc. The stem rotates a quarter of a circle when the actuator is rotated.
It aligns the disc parallel to the flow, completely opening the pipe. You can also generate a throttled flow by partially opening the disc.
Here are two valve components and their variations to determine the butterfly valve you’ll need.
Valve seat
When the valve is closed, the disc sits on the valve seat. Because the seats are subjected to significant frictional and impact pressures, they are designed differently for different applications. EPDM is commonly used to make valves resistant to corrosion caused by acids and alkalis, water, alcohol, bleach, and chlorine (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer). On the other hand, EPDM is unsuitable for petroleum-based lubricants, hydrocarbons, turpentine, etc.
Teflon is another prominent valve seat material (PTFE). It is suitable for use with oil and gas, as well as with electrical appliances. These seats are not designed to sustain a great deal of pressure. Consult with your supplier to determine which seat material is most suited to your requirements.
Valve actuator
The valve component that turns the disc is known as the actuator. It can be operated manually via handles and gears or automatically via electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic force. If you need to manage the flow accurately and remotely, automatic actuators can help. They also include manual overrides if the automatic method fails. Request that your supplier informs you of each type’s benefits and drawbacks and recommend the best one for your needs.
Material of the valve body
These valves are often composed of the materials listed below. Each has its own set of advantages and applications.
Carbon steel – Despite its low cost, it cannot be used in corrosive settings.
Stainless steel — This material is resistant to corrosive environments and is extremely long-lasting.
Titanium Alloy – Titanium is the most durable metal in relation to its weight. It is light and resistant to corrosion.
Aluminium bronze — This material resists biofilm growth and is ideal for seawater piping systems.
Type of connection
Wafer style
A wafer-style valve is sandwiched between two pipe flanges, and the complete assembly is held together by bolts. To produce a leak-proof seal, gaskets, o-rings, and valve faces are inserted between the pipes and the valve.
A wafer-style connector is appropriate for unidirectional flow since it prevents backflow.
The Lug Style
A lug-type connector is required if you want the piping system on either side of your valves to be independent of each other. The valve is bolted between the two pipe flanges using two distinct sets of bolts on each side. Check that the pressure settings match whether your valve is a connecting valve or a dead-end service. The former can withstand far more pressure than the latter.
Butterfly Valve provides the following benefits:
- It’s smaller and lighter than most valves for the same job.
- It comes in sizes ranging from 2 to 20 inches and can be considerably larger if necessary.
- Because it has fewer moving parts, it requires less maintenance.
- It is ideal for applications requiring variable fluid pressure.
- It is capable of entirely isolating the fluid flow.
- Unlike a gate valve, it can also control fluid flow.
