What is the Difference Between Standard and High Performance Butterfly Valves?

butterfly valves are ubiquitous flow control elements in all major industries including water, food processing, oil & gas, and many more. Although quarter-turn operation is common among them, differences between the standard and the high-performance butterfly valve are significant if you consider pressure rating, sealing technology, materials, and actuator compatibility. Knowing the difference can assist an engineer in choosing the appropriate valve for a demanding application.

Standard/resilient butterfly valves are usually with a rubber or elastomeric seat. Typical types include Wafer Type Butterfly Valve​ and Lug Style Butterfly Valve which can be widely found in low pressure applications. The Wafer Type Butterfly Valve​ sits between two pipe flanges and is secured by bolts; it's simple and cost-effective. In comparison to the wafer version, the lug design features threaded inserts (lugs) around the circumference of the flange, which permits the valve to be installed or removed on either side of a dead end service. They are typically attached to a Butterfly Valve Actuator, whether that be a manual handle or Electric Valve Actuator, to automate shutoff and throttling operations. TheMotorized Butterfly Valve​ variant is especially sought after in HVAC and utility applications where there is a need to operate the valve from a distance.

 Materials are important too. A Stainless Steel Butterfly Valve​ is an ideal choice for corrosive applications in food processing, pharmaceuticals and marine due to its high corrosion resistance. Brands such as Keystone Butterfly Valves​ have established a name for themselves in reliable performance for both standard and automated configurations, with seamless integration to various Butterfly Valve Actuators.

High Performance Butterfly Valves, however, is the solution for more severe applications. Change metal seats or multi-layer graphite seals, which can be used with higher pressures (up to ANSI Class 600) and temperatures above 500°F. These valves tend to be double-offset or triple-offset designs (instead of just a single offset like most standard models), which helps to reduce seat wear and enhance sealing performance.Flanged Butterfly Valve​ is widely used in demanding applications because of the strong attachment and stable alignment. These valves are also often actuated with heavy-duty Electric Valve Actuators​ or Pneumatic systems to achieve accurate control of high stress applications.

Although a Butterfly Check Valve has a different function (it is a check valve, so it prevents backflow) it is useful to understand that in certain high performance designs, check functionality can be incorporated into the design of the valve itself. In conclusion, a normal butterfly valve would be suitable for general and low pressure service; the High Performance Butterfly Valve offers higher strength, tighter shut-off and wider operating limits. From Lug Style Butterfly Valve to Stainless Steel Butterfly Valve to full featured Motorized Butterfly Valve, the correct selection will result in Safe, Efficient and Sustainable operations in your plant.