What Are Butterfly Valves?

The name of the valve is one that arouses curiosity. As an important member of the quarter-turn family of industrial valves, the butterfly valve can perform three major functions, thus compensating for three kinds of valves. By appearance, the valve is vastly different from that of its other counterparts, the globe valve and the ball valve. The valve is characterised by the thin disc which stays perpendicular to the flow of the media when the valve is turned on. When the handwheel or lever is turned off, the disc moves parallel to the flow of the media.

The butterfly valve is simple yet effective in design. It allows the unrestricted flow of media and also has isolation capabilities. Here are some of the reasons why butterfly valves are preferred in many industrial facilities:

It can fit in tight, compact spaces.
It is lightweight.
The valve is cost-effective.
It is suited to handle high volumes of liquids and gases at low pressure.
It is very suitable for applications that use media with small particles.

Blue with yellow colour industrial valve installed by butterfly valve manufacturers in the outdoor place of Indonesia

The butterfly valve and its parts

This article is a guide to understanding how the butterfly valve functions. But before we can delve into those details, it is important to know the parts of the valve. There are five main parts :

The handle or actuator is placed on the side or top of the valve.
The body or the external covering protects the internal parts of the valve.
The seat covers and seals the inner walls of the valve.
The stem that connects the main body to the handle.
The butterfly disc is a thin flap-like disc that controls the flow of media.

Also Read : What Is The Difference Between Double And Triple Offset Butterfly Valves

Understanding how the butterfly valve functions

Step 1

To turn on the valve, the handle or actuator is turned a quarter turn. This changes the position of the disc inside the valve's body from perpendicular to parallel to the flow of the media.

Step 2

The pressure drops when the valve opens, and the disc moves away from the seat towards the valve's centreline. To allow the medium to flow in full force, the handle is turned a full quarter turn.

Step 3

Once the process is complete, the handle is moved in the opposite direction to turn off the valve. This action brings the disc back from the parallel position to the perpendicular position. As the disc returns to its original position, it firmly lodges itself to the seat and seals shut the flow of media.

Thus, with a simple turn of the handle, the valve opens and shuts to regulate the flow of media. Throttling is a process that happens when the valve's disc is positioned at a certain degree to allow the flow of media partially. Butterfly valves are very effective and reliable when it comes to controlling the flow of media because the design of the valve allows to control the angle created by the disc in relation to the centreline.

Butterfly valves can be operated manually, electrically and pneumatically. Pneumatically-driven valves have a piston attached to the side of the body, which provides the right air pressure required for the valve to open. Electrically operated valves come with a gearbox attached to the top of the valve. When the gearbox receives a signal from a remote source, it turns the stem to move the disc to the parallel position.

Of late, pneumatic butterfly valves are in high demand for applications that require a quick and unrestricted operation. By design, the butterfly valve is quick to open and close and is very efficient in regulating and isolating the flow of media. Its adaptability to a vast range of applications has driven valve manufacturers to design different types of butterfly valves with various type-end connections and disc configurations.

Oilway, Indonesia: Manufacturers of butterfly valves for multiple applications

Butterfly valves are an ingenious design. Their simple working mechanism makes them ideal for applications that range across sectors like the food and beverage industry, wastewater treatment facilities, fuel industries, and fire protection services.

Keeping up with the demand for these industrial valves, Oilway manufactures Indonesia's high quality double eccentric and triple eccentric butterfly valves. Our strict adherence to quality standards ensures that each product is flawless, durable and highly efficient.

To make business enquiries or to place your orders, contact us @+86-21-69891289 or email us info@oil-way.com