Industrial Valve Selection Guide: How to Choose the Most Suitable Butterfly Valve

In industrial production processes, valves are one of the essential components. Butterfly valves, as a common type of valve, are widely used in various industrial fields due to their simple structure, ease of operation, and low flow resistance. However, with the wide variety of butterfly valve products available on the market, how do you choose the most suitable one? This article provides a detailed industrial valve selection guide.

1. Understanding the Basic Structure and Working Principle of Butterfly Valves

A butterfly valve mainly consists of a valve body, a butterfly disc, a valve stem, and a sealing ring. The working principle is that the valve stem rotates, causing the butterfly disc to rotate within the valve body, thereby opening or closing the valve. The opening and closing angle of the butterfly valve is generally between 0° and 90°, making it easy to operate.

2. Determine the Operating Environment and Working Conditions

When selecting a butterfly valve, the first step is to clearly define the operating environment and working conditions, including the nature of the medium (such as corrosiveness, viscosity, temperature, etc.), pressure range, flow rate requirements, and more. These factors will directly influence the choice of material and design of the valve.

1. Nature of the Medium

• Corrosive Media: For corrosive liquids such as acids or alkalis, a butterfly valve made of corrosion-resistant materials like stainless steel or titanium alloy should be selected.

• High-Temperature Media: For applications involving steam or high-temperature gases, butterfly valves made of high-temperature materials such as carbon steel or alloy steel are recommended.

• Low-Temperature Media: For applications involving liquefied gas or low-temperature liquids, butterfly valves made of low-temperature materials such as aluminum alloys or stainless steel are ideal.

2. Pressure Range

The pressure range of butterfly valves is typically categorized into low-pressure (PN10~PN16) and medium-pressure (PN25~PN63). Based on the pressure requirements of the actual working conditions, choose a butterfly valve with the appropriate pressure rating.

3. Flow Rate Requirements

The diameter of the butterfly valve directly affects the flow rate. Select a valve with the correct diameter based on the flow rate requirements of the piping system to ensure smooth fluid flow.

3. Choose the Appropriate Sealing Method

Butterfly valves mainly use either metal sealing or non-metal sealing.

• Metal Sealing: Suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, offering better sealing performance but at a higher cost.

• Non-Metal Sealing: Suitable for normal temperature and pressure conditions, offering good sealing performance at a lower cost. Common non-metal sealing materials include rubber and PTFE.

4. Consider the Operation Method

Butterfly valves can be operated manually, electrically, or pneumatically.

• Manual Butterfly Valves: Ideal for small piping systems, manual operation is simple and cost-effective.

• Electric Butterfly Valves: Suitable for larger piping systems, electric butterfly valves allow remote control, making operation easier but with a higher cost.

• Pneumatic Butterfly Valves: Suitable for applications that require rapid opening and closing, offering fast operation and high reliability.

5. Focus on Maintenance and Care

Butterfly valves need to be regularly maintained and serviced to ensure proper functioning. Choosing a valve that is easy to maintain can reduce downtime and increase production efficiency.

6. Choose a Reliable Supplier

Selecting a reputable and technically capable supplier ensures the quality of the butterfly valve and its after-sales service. When purchasing butterfly valves, you can refer to the supplier’s certifications, customer reviews, and other information to choose the most suitable supplier. For high-quality butterfly valves, consider trusted brands like YEKE Valve, known for their commitment to excellence. Visit YEKEVALVE.COM for more details on their extensive range of products.

Conclusion

Selecting the most suitable butterfly valve requires comprehensive consideration of the operating environment, working conditions, sealing method, operation type, and maintenance requirements. We hope this industrial valve selection guide helps you choose the best butterfly valve for your needs, ensuring smooth and efficient industrial production.