Butterfly valves are one of the most popular types of valves that play a significant role in regulating various fluids (slurries, liquids, and suspended solids) in domestic, commercial, and industrial processes. Due to their capability to handle large flow volumes while operating under low-pressure conditions, they are widely used in various applications, such as for collection, water supply, and distribution systems.
What Are Butterfly Valves?
A butterfly valve is a quarter-turn rotatory (zero-degree to 90-degree) valve that helps to regulate the flow of fluid or gas. It’s operated by a rod joint with a disc that rotates by an actuator or manually. The discs create an obstacle in the path of fluid.
Additionally, these valves are designed to prevent leakage and act as a shutoff valve to create tight seals in the fluid processing systems.
In this article, you may get a better idea about what butterfly valves are, their components, working process and applications.
Components Of Butterfly Valves
The butterfly valves contain many components to make them compatible and durable for various applications. The main components of butterfly valves are
1. Outer Part Of Valve (Body)
The outer part of the valve is made of cast iron, stainless steel, and high-quality plastic material. The shell, or outer part, helps handle pressure, temperature, and environmental conditions. Its rigid structure not only protects the disc and other internal components but also facilitates a centralized and efficient flow of liquids or gases between connected pipes.
2. Valve Disc
Valve discs are used to stop, start, or regulate the fluid flow. The disc is connected to the stem, which rotates it 90 degrees. The flow rate is directly dependent upon the rotation of the disc.
When the disc rotates, an orifice (gap) is created between the seal and the disc that allows the fluid to flow.
When the disc is parallel along the seal, it fully closes the path of fluid or gas; otherwise, it allows the fluid to flow between the gaps.
3. Seat (Provide Tight Seal)
The seat of the butterfly valve is the internal surface of the valve that helps seal the gap between the disc and the valve when the valve is closed.
The seat helps to prevent seal leakage during fluid flow. It is made from different elastomers or polymers that help to tighten the seal to prevent leakage.
4. Valve Shaft Or Stem
The stem or shaft is an essential part of the valve that helps to rotate the disc. It connects the disc with the handle or actuator to enable the valve to open or close.
How Does A Butterfly Valve Work?
The working principle of the butterfly valve is achieved by a simple operation based on a quarter rotation (90 degrees). The butterfly valves contain a plate disc that is connected to a rod, and the rod is rotated by an actuator or manually at an axis. When the rod rotates at the axis, the disc rotates.
When the disc is parallel to the flow, the valve is closed, which means it blocks the flow of fluid. When the disc is perpendicular to the flow, the valve is fully open, allowing fluid to pass freely.
The valve can also be used to regulate flow when the disc is partially open, controlling how much fluid passes through.
There are different types of butterfly valves used based on pressure, temperature, and the type of fluid. Each type is designed to handle different needs in a pipeline system.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Butterfly Valves
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Lightweight and easy to install due to compact valve design | It may not be suitable for high temperatures and pressure |
| Operated at 90 degrees to open or close. | The flow capacity reduces during continuous flow. |
| Less expensive than other valves | The sudden closing increases the risk of water hammer, choked flow, and cavitation issues. |
| Effective flow control of fluid | It has minimal throttling in the difference of the pressure, and the disc movement is unguided. |
| At the minimal loss of pressure, it allows flow efficiency | Not suitable for thick fluids |
Applications Of Butterfly Valves
- In pharmaceutical industries, to prevent and clean the pipeline and equipment.
- In chemical industries, prevent corrosion and isolate or regulate the flow of liquids, gases, and slurries.
- In the gas and oil industries, the purpose is to isolate and protect equipment and refine the process of crude oil.
- In the food industry, it is necessary to prevent leakage and contamination.
- In water Supply, regulate, start, or stop the water flow.
- In wastewater treatment, organic matter and suspended matter are removed, and a disinfection process is performed.
- In fire protection, it is necessary to start or stop the water flow quickly.
- In sanitary fittings, reliable and precise flow control with minimal pressure drop.
Features Of The Flotaa’s Butterfly Valve
Manual valves have a handle to move the disc, and it is stressful to handle at the time. The automatic valve or actuated valve handles the valve remotely.
Flotaa offers an advanced level and fully automated smart centralized wireless valve controller, which contains a butterfly valve, actuator, and smart controller.
You can control this valve remotely via a web application. It is an IoT-enabled, Wi-Fi-operated butterfly valve that can operate manually and automatically. It also contains an IP67-enclosed actuator unit, an LED for status monitoring, and 220-volt AC electricity.
Conclusion
A butterfly valve is the best option for quickly shutting off, starting, or regulating fluids or gas applications. Due to its quarter-turn qualities, it’s suitable for quick stops or starts. If you need to install butterfly valves for your application, then you may get a better idea from this.
Read More About: Types Of Valve Actuators
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