Views: 26 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2022-12-13 Origin: Site
Choosing the correct valve for your application is an important task when designing a process system. A valve's properties and characteristics determine its suitability for a particular application. However, for some applications, multiple different valve types may work.
Both butterfly valves and ball valves offer unique benefits, so choosing between them in certain processes is not a hard choice. It can be problematic when a process requires valve characteristics that both valves have. We need a deeper understanding of the butterfly valves vs ball valves in order to pick the correct valve.
Flow regulation: ball valves types can be used for on/off control and proportional control, but ball valves are typically used for proportional due to better flow regulation. Ports: A butterfly valves can only have two ports, while a ball valve can have more than two ports.
What are ball valves?
Ball valves and butterfly valves are quarter-turn valves that are used to start, stop, and sometimes regulate the flow of medium through any piping system. Ball valves use a hollow, perforated, and pivoting ball to control the flow of materials from one opening to the next. The valve can be open, closed, or partially open to allow gasses, liquids, and slurries to pass through it. Ball valves are used in applications where tight shut-off is required. This is what a typical ball valve looks like.
What are butterfly valves?
butterfly valves feature a spherical disk with a hole. The hole has a rod running through it that controls the movement of the valve. As the rod moves, it rotates the disk to open or close the butterfly valves. These valves were originally used in applications where tight closure was not necessary. But modern butterfly valves come with fairly tight seals made of rubber or elastomeric materials providing tight shut-off just like other valves. Here is an image of a butterfly valves.
How are Ball and butterfly valves Similar?
Though there are many differences between the two, ball and butterfly valves also have a number of similarities. They are often confused with each other because they are capable of performing similar functions. Here are some other similarities between the two valves:
Both ball and butterfly valves are quarter-turn valves that require a 90-degree turn to open and close Ball and butterfly valves can be made of cast iron, stainless steel, brass, or any combination of these metals Both valves can manage the flow of most types of liquids and gasses at a wide range of pressures and temperatures Ball and butterfly valves are relatively affordable, durable, and dependable Both are widely available in the market in different types and configurations.
Below mentioned are a few distinctions between a butterfly vs ball valves.
Application
ball valves seal well. Thus they can be employed in sensitive applications where contamination is a concern. Furthermore, ball valves, particularly low-pressure ball valves, are well-suited for gas applications.
On the other hand, butterfly valves take up less space in the plant; they are employed in water services where the flow of media must be controlled. These valves are employed in large-scale projects since they are less expensive to manufacture.
Function
ball valves are exclusively used to isolate. The bubble-tight cutoff of ball valves is what makes it beneficial as well as popular. Because the soft elastomeric seats are readily destroyed in this state, ball valves are rarely employed as control valves.
In ball vs butterfly valves comparison, butterfly valves can provide isolation and control mechanisms. However, they do not provide a bubble-tight shutdown. To be an excellent regulating valve, the media must be slow-moving to minimize friction caused by the excessive velocity of the medium.
Cost
In terms of cost, both of them are more or less the same, but the butterfly valves are comparatively cheaper than the ball valves.
Bore Size
The diameter of the ball and hole in proportion to the standard pipe size of the valve distinguishes a normal ball valve from a full-port ball valve.
Installation space
In terms of installation space, butterfly valves require smaller installation space in the comparison of ball valves vs butterfly.
Ports
In terms of ports available, butterfly valves consist of only two ports, while on the other hand, ball valves can have multiple ports depending on the usage and the type.
Structure
Both of them have a different structure when compared to each other. A butterfly valves comes with a simpler design that consists of a thin disk in a thin body, while on the other hand, a ball valve comes with a complex design. The disk valve has a hemispheric-shaped disk inside a bulky body.
Flow restriction
The butterfly valves disc slows down the flow by causing a significant pressure drop. On the other hand, when compared to butterfly valves, ball valves have significantly less pressure