Plastic body and disc butterfly valves can be used for a variety of applications. From basic on/off valves for swimming swimming pools to throttle control valves for chemical processing, the butterfly valve is the workhorse valve of many industries. Regardless of the severity of the application, proper operation and maintenance play a critical function in the life of a valve once put into service.
When it comes to butterfly valve choice, contemplate these three components: material, physique style and how the valve is operated.
Materials
No single thermoplastic materials is the solution for all functions. Two of the most common supplies for plastic butterfly valves are polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), which are extensively used throughout many industries. In wanting on the differences between PVC and CPVC, we see that both have a maximum high working stress of 150 psi, however CPVC has a higher working temperature than PVC. In an application like a swimming pool, either materials would work for chemical resistance and temperature, but for decent water service above 140ºF, PVC is no longer an possibility. CPVC, however, has the next temperature restrict of approximately 195ºF.
Valve liner material selection can additionally be influenced by temperature. Ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) and fluorinated elastomer (FKM) are two common liner materials. Both have higher temperature limits equal to or greater than PVC and CPVC, however butterfly valves with FKM liners can become inoperable below 23ºF as a result of hardening of the rubber compound. This causes the large resilient seat of the valve to turn out to be hard, which makes it troublesome to seat the valve to a closed position, or unseat it to open.
Body styles
Butterfly valve body styles largely depend upon the valve’s location inside a piping system. Valves in the middle of a course of line, sandwiched between two mating flanges with bolts that pass via the valve and usually are not threaded into the valve body, are generally known as wafer fashion valves.
For end-of-line purposes, lug style butterfly valves enable one mating flange to be eliminated. Threaded steel lug inserts are either overmolded into the valve body, or the valve physique is molded or machined to accept a lug with an inside thread for mating flange bolts from either aspect of the valve.
Once downstream piping is eliminated, an end-of-line valve should be secured using a blind flange.
Operators
Manually operated butterfly valves require either a lever or a gear operator to open and shut the valve. A lever handle can be used for smaller valves (up to 4 inches in diameter). An operator manually rotates the lever ninety levels to tug the valve disc out of the valve seat to open the valve. Rotating the valve in the reverse direction 90 levels will shut it again. Typical rotation is counterclockwise to open, and clockwise to shut. The solely mechanical benefit right here is the size of the lever appearing on the fulcrum level turning the valve stem. The longer the deal with, the better it is to operate the deal with, but too lengthy a handle becomes impractical.
A gear operator is a mechanical operator where a hand wheel is attached to a shaft with a worm gear on one end that engages a central gear attached to the valve stem. This supplies a mechanical benefit due to the ratio of the gearing. Gear operators require a number of 360-degree rotations of the hand wheel to attain the ninety levels required for open or shut.
Operation, upkeep & failure prevention
Like all valves, butterfly valves need to be operated periodically to ensure reliability. A butterfly that stays in the closed place for an extended time period could get caught closed and turn out to be inoperable. Sediment can build up against the disc, which could possibly be difficult to push out of the way as the disc swings open. The rubber liner can take a set across the disc, making it tough to drag the disc out of the liner to open the valve. In the event of a chemical attack, the liner can swell around the disc effectively restricting its motion.
Since butterfly valves are utilized in many applications, there are totally different necessities for maintenance based mostly on the sort of media in the system, and other ways the valve could be affected by the fluids passing via it.
Clean fluid systems with low chemical concentrations ought to require little upkeep; Periodic cycling of the valve ought to guarantee its reliable operation.
Harsh chemicals might assault rubber liner seals, resulting in cracking or swelling of the liner. In such situations, it is recommended to maintain affected components in stock for rebuilding or alternative. Swelling of the liner can also result in extreme stem torque to function the valve, which might lead to a more catastrophic kind of failure where the valve disc might crack or cut up.
Suspended particles in fluid can be abrasive and cause hassle in an installed valve. In applications the place particulate travels beneath stress by way of a valve opening, wear on the valve disc and liner turn into obvious. Affected areas include the skin diameter of the disc, in addition to the rubber liner. The wear on these surfaces could have a adverse influence on sealing performance as the sealing parts (disc and liner) become out of tolerance with their design dimensions, which may end in leakage previous a closed position valve due to the abraded materials. Additionally, the general thickness of the disc could presumably be decreased, compromising the crucial cross-section dimension, which may lead to a cracked disc failure.
Debris within the form of giant particles or overseas objects can turn out to be lodged within the valve opening, causing a damaged disc or liner. Damage to the sealing floor of the disc will lead to a leak path. While the flow will be lowered, constructive shutoff can’t be achieved. This sort of failure would require disassembly and alternative of the damaged components.
Scaling or buildup of foreign materials on the inner valve components can occur in some processes. Landfills use chemical substances to deal with the leachate or groundwater that has leached by way of a waste pit. pressure gauge ยี่ห้อ tk remaining compound can construct up and coat a butterfly valve’s internal disc or liner. Operating the valve creates a wiping action of the valve disc towards the liner as it opens and closes, which may be enough to disturb the overseas layer and reestablish normal disc-to-liner sealing performance.
Even the most effective butterfly valves is not going to last endlessly, however careful consideration and choice of valve materials and style, coupled with correct maintenance and an awareness of potential complications, can tremendously enhance the lifetime of a valve in even the harshest applications.
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