What Is A Butterfly Valve Suitable For?

Butterfly valves are suitable for low to medium pressure and variable flow applications. It is the standard valve for large diameter pipes that require a compact and lightweight valve. Butterfly valves are frequently used in water distribution, chemical processing, low pressure applications, and more. Suitable for throttling and fully open or closed applications, they provide efficient flow control and regulation in a variety of settings.

Butterfly valves use a rotating disc mounted on a central stem to control fluid flow. In the closed position, the disc is perpendicular to the fluid flow, blocking fluid flow. Rotating the stem 90 degrees positions the disc parallel to the fluid flow, allowing fluid to pass. The valve can also be partially opened to regulate flow. O-rings prevent stem leaks. Read our Butterfly Valve Overview article to learn more about butterfly valve designs and various types.

Content
1. When to Use a Butterfly Valve
2. Where to Use Butterfly Valves
3. Choosing Butterfly Valves
4. Disadvantages
5. Butterfly Valves vs. Ball Valves, Gate Valves, and Globe Valves
6. FAQ

1. When to Use a Butterfly Valve
Due to a number of factors, butterfly valves are an excellent choice for a variety of applications:

Fast Closure: Butterfly valves are ideal for rapid opening and closing, making them ideal for rapid isolation of critical emergency shutdown and fire extinguishing systems.
Limited Space Requirements: Butterfly valves feature a compact, streamlined design that requires less space to install than gate or globe valves, which is beneficial in tight spaces or when piping systems are crowded. Butterfly valves are also cost-effective compared to other types of valves.
Applications Involving Large Pipe Sizes: When fully open, butterfly valves offer low flow resistance and precise flow control, making them commonly used to regulate large diameter systems.
Coarse-Grained Media: Butterfly valves are suitable for conveying media containing suspended solids, powders, and granules, depending on the strength of the seal. They are also effective for conveying mud or slurries, minimizing liquid accumulation at the pipe opening.
Limited torque requirements: Because butterfly valves operate with a quarter turn, they require less torque, allowing for smaller, more cost-effective actuators than other valves such as gate valves.
Flow regulation: Although not as precise as globe valves, butterfly valves can be used for flow regulation and throttling, providing a good balance between flow control and pressure drop.
Good mechanical properties: The stem of the butterfly valve adopts a through-stem structure, which is tempered and has good mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and abrasion resistance. The stem rotates without lifting during operation, reducing packing wear and reliable sealing.

2. Where butterfly valves are used
Chemical industry: used for on/off and regulation control of chemicals and liquids during processing and transportation.
Oil and gas industry: used for isolation and regulation of pipelines and containers.
Water treatment: used to control the flow of water and treatment chemicals, especially in seawater and raw water management.
HVAC system:critical for controlling flow rate and regulating air and fluid flow. Commonly used in large piping systems to manage airflow, in chilled water systems to prevent cooling water flow, and in heating systems to regulate hot water flow.
Food and beverage processing: used to manage fluid flow during processing and ensure sanitary conditions.
Drinking water: Water supply systems are ideal for handling large amounts of fluid in pumping stations, water collection, transportation and drinking water distribution, and can be used as flow isolation devices.

3. Selection principles of butterfly valves

- Since the pressure loss of butterfly valves is larger than that of gate valves and ball valves, they are suitable for pipeline systems that do not require strict pressure loss.

-Since butterfly valves can be used for flow regulation, they are suitable for use in pipelines that require flow regulation.

-Due to the limitations of butterfly valve structure and sealing materials, they are not suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure pipeline systems. The general operating temperature is below 300C and the nominal pressure is below PN40.

-Since the structural length of butterfly valves is relatively short, they can be made into large orifices. Therefore, it is appropriate to choose butterfly valves in occasions where a shorter structural length is required, or where a large orifice valve (such as DN1000 or above) is required.

-Because butterfly valves can be opened or closed with just a 90° rotation, they should be selected in situations where quick opening and closing are required.

4. Disadvantages
Limitations of high-pressure and high-temperature systems: Butterfly valves are generally not suitable for extremely high-pressure/high-temperature applications because they may be prone to leakage due to the design of the valve disc and seal.
Exception: High-performance butterfly valves are made of more robust materials; they have higher temperature and pressure ratings, enhanced corrosion resistance, and improved sealing capabilities.
Precise flow control: Although butterfly valves can be used for basic flow regulation, they are not ideal for applications that require precise flow control because their design does not allow for fine adjustments. They are generally used when flow regulation is required and leakage is not serious.
Triple-eccentric butterfly valves have enhanced sealing in applications where leakage is a concern, making them suitable for flow regulation and leakage prevention. However, their flow control accuracy is generally lower than valves designed for fine adjustment, such as globe valves.
Flow blockage: Even when fully opened, the valve disc remains in the flow path (because the valve disc is centrally mounted), which can cause pressure drops and make it unsuitable for applications where minimum flow resistance is critical.
Non-Pigable: Butterfly valves are not suitable for systems that require pigging (cleaning using a device that passes through the pipe) because the disc will obstruct the flow path.

5. Butterfly Valves vs. Ball Valves, Gate Valves, and Globe Valves
Butterfly valves are used for fast on/off applications and low-pressure systems where cost and space efficiency are a priority. Other types of valves, such as ball valves, gate valves, and globe valves, have unique features and are suitable for different applications.

For more information on butterfly valves compared to other types of valves, read the articles Butterfly Valves vs. Ball Valves and Gate Valves vs. Butterfly Valves at https://www.hengsen-sc.com/.

6. FAQs

Common Problem

What does a butterfly valve do?

A butterfly valve regulates the flow of fluid through a pipe by rotating the disc to open, close, or partially block the passage.

Can a butterfly valve be used for flow control?

Yes, a butterfly valve can be used for flow control. However, it may not provide as precise control as other types of valves, such as globe valves, especially at low flows.

When to use a butterfly valve and when to use a ball valve?

For applications with slurries or viscous media that require controlled flow, use a butterfly valve; for applications that require tight shutoff, minimal leakage, and fast on/off control, use a ball valve.

What is the difference between a butterfly valve and a gate valve?

A butterfly valve uses a rotating disk to control flow, while a gate valve uses a sliding gate to open or close the flow path.

Check out our online selection of butterfly valves!