Butterfly valves are vital elements incorporated in industrial applications with regard to fluid control and Piping Industries. These valves are well applied in mostly oil and gas industry, water utilities, chemical process, HVAC and other industries that require proper control of flow as a key factor to organizational performance. Based on that context, this guide shall be focusing on the different types of Butterfly Valves, advantages, applications and the key factors that should be taken into account when choosing a Butterfly Valve for use in industrial business to Business (B2B) environments.
What is a Butterfly Valve
A butterfly valve is a rotary control valve that utilizes a disc in the quarter turn to modulate or completely shut-off the fluids in the process pipeline. Its features are based on a closing mechanism consisting of a rotatable disc. When the disc is positioned flat across the flow then the valve is completely open to provide smooth flow passage. On the other hand, when it is rotated parallel to the flow, the disc opens only a small fraction of the area and permits only a minimal flow to occur.
There are relatively high chances of butterfly valves to be applied because they are cheap, easy to install, and compact. For instance, the Domber butterfly valve lineup gives clients diversified products satisfying the requirements of industrial applications for excellent performance and sturdiness.
Types of Butterfly Valves
It is very important to appreciate the differences in the butterfly valves for one to select the ideal one to use in a particular situation. Each type is developed for particular tasks and environmental conditions in which a company operates.
Wafer Butterfly Valve
The wafer butterfly valve is installed between two flanges on a pipe line or between two cylindrical pipes. This kind of valve provides a very good closure to bi-directional flow but comes in very light and cheap to manufacture. Some industries that need quick, basic control of fluids opt for these valves because of ease of fitting and lack of need for frequent interference.
Lug Butterfly Valve
The lug butterfly valve comes with nuts, bolts and round lugs on both ends of the valve – that is, on the valve stem, in order to be directly screwed on to the flanges. This design offers more solidity than the previous design and is useful in services where one part of the pipeline could need servicing, leaving the other side unharmed. As such, lug valves are perfect for use in systems requiring sectioned and dependable flow regulation.
Double offset Butterfly Valve
Double offset: This kind of butterfly valve is also referred to as the high performance butterfly valve and in the design; there are two eccentricities. These offsets minimize the contact pressure between the disc and seat during operations, lengthening the valve’s useful service life and enhancing sealing efficiency. Double offset valves self-actuated for use in high pressure and high temperature applications including oil and gas industries.
Triple Offset Butterfly Valve
It is in fact a triple offset butterfly valve that is developed for envisaged tasks as it has three offsets to provide a metal to metal seal. It enables the valve to serve in context with high temperatures, high pressure, high corrosive conditions with ease. It is evident that industries that need high-performance butterfly valves for their processes are chemical processing and power generating companies.
Butterfly valve benefits
There are several advantages of the butterfly valves for industrial application for which they are widely used. Here’s why they stand out:
– Compact and Lightweight: The butterfly valves come closer to offering less space and their weight is considerably lower compared to other varieties of valves hence can be operated with less difficulty in confined spaces.
– Cost-Effective: That is why butterfly valves with uncomplicated design and minimum application of materials are usually less expensive compared to other types but offer generally high performance.
– Quick Operation: The operation of the butterfly valves is a quarter-turn, and this makes it possible to open as well as close the valve within a short time which is very important in places where the flow rate is likely to be changed frequently.
– Versatility: Depending on the choice of the material and its design, butterfly valves are used to regulate all types of fluids at different pressures and temperature conditions.
– Low Maintenance: Butterfly valves have relatively simple structure with fewer parts in comparison with other valves, thereby it is easier to maintain than other types of valves, and therefore minimize operational costs in the long run.
How to Choose the Correct Butterfly Valve
Selecting the right butterfly valve entails a review of the nature of the system which the valve is intended for. Here are highlights:
Media Type
Valve is categorically selected based on the type of media passing through the valve; water, gasses, oil or any corrosive material requires a suitable material to construct the valve body and the seal in particular. Stainless steel for example is ideal for corrosive water conditions or areas, and ductile iron where ordinary water is likely to be used.
Pressure and Temperature Ratings
Various types of butterfly valves developed in the market also indicate differences in their pressure as well as temperature ratings. Most of the high-pressure and high-temperature systems call for either double or triple offset butterfly valves while the standard pressure ones use either wafer or lug type.
Application Environment
The nature of the operation environment should form the basis for choosing a butterfly valve. Some contaminants can demand valves that have a higher tolerance against corrosion than other environments that are enclosed or indoor. For more severe services as chemical or marine applications ensure the selected valve has anti corrosive or humidity resistant coatings or manufacturing materials.
Frequency of Operation
If the valve is to operate directly with great frequency or in a modulating control capacity, select a butterfly valve that can offer up to more use. Double or triple offset valves with low friction can be used for heavy cycles or for instances requiring quick and slow control for flows.
Compliance and Standards
Assess that the choice valve you choose complies to standard requirements and certifications of the various industries. Valves with ANSI, API, or ISO certifications are manufactured to provide high performance and safety levels as the rigors of industrial application demand.
For more information on butterfly valves and to explore a variety of options, you can visit Dombor’s butterfly valve product page https://www.dombor.com/ru/product-category/butterfly-valves/
Conclusion
Butterfly valves are valuable assets in industries when it comes to management of flow since they are compact, efficient and relatively cheaper than the other types of valves. These are classified into wafer, lug, double offset, and triple offset, and there is a butterfly valve for every operation style. Here, based on the kind of media, working pressure, service temperature, surrounding condition and operating temperature, B2B personnel can carry out a scrutiny to ensure that they acquire a butterfly valve that suits the system’s needs and performs as requested.
Frankly speaking, for those who focus on the purchase of reliable and high-stressed butterfly valves, Domber has formulated a variety of solutions to meet the requirements of industrial uses.
