The full-bore bidirectional metal-seated butterfly valve is a high-performance industrial valve. It has been widely used in many fields due to its unique design and superior performance. This paper explores the structural characteristics, working principle, advantages, and applications of the full-bore bidirectional metal-seated butterfly valve.
Overview
The triple eccentric metal-seated butterfly valve, widely used in the market, has the significant advantages of high-pressure bearing capacity and long service life, but it also has defects of low reverse pressure bearing capacity and large flow channel area occupied by the valve seat. Especially the small and medium-sized valves have a relatively large flow resistance coefficient and high energy consumption. To overcome the above defects, this paper introduces a technical solution and design calculation method for a full-bore bidirectional metal-seated butterfly valve using a floating valve seat.
Main structural components
(1) Valve Bodies
The valve body is the main pressure-bearing component of the butterfly valve, usually made from high-strength stainless steel or alloy steel to ensure good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance in high pressure and corrosive media. The full-bore design minimizes fluid flow resistance through the valve, ensuring efficient system operation.
(2) Valve Discs
The disc is the core component of the butterfly valve, whose rotation enables the valve to open, close, and regulate the flow rate. The disc is usually made of materials with the same or higher strength as the valve body and is specially hardened to improve wear and corrosion resistance. The disc’s design directly affects the valve’s flow resistance characteristics and sealing performance.
(3) Valve Seats
The valve seat forms a sealing surface with the disc and is usually made from materials such as carbide or ceramic, which have excellent wear resistance and high-temperature resistance. The bidirectional sealing design allows the valve to maintain good sealing performance under bidirectional flow conditions, providing better operational flexibility and reliability.
(4) Valve Stems
The stem connects the disc and the actuator, transmitting the operating force to rotate the disc. The stem is usually made from high-strength stainless steel, precision machined and heat treated to ensure sufficient strength and corrosion resistance. The stem’s design and manufacturing quality directly affect the valve’s operational flexibility and sealing performance.
(5) Packing Glands
The packing gland seals the gap between the stem and the valve body to prevent the medium from leaking. High-performance sealing materials such as flexible graphite and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) are usually used, which have good corrosion and high-temperature resistance. The packing’s sealing performance directly affects the valve’s overall sealing effect.
(6) Actuators
The actuator drives the rotation of the valve stem and butterfly plate and can be manual, pneumatic, electric, or hydraulic. The actuator selection should be based on specific working conditions and operating habits. High-performance actuators ensure reliable valve operation under various complex working conditions.
Structural features
The design of full-bore bidirectional metal-seated butterfly valve has the following main features:
(1) Full-bore design
The full-bore design minimize flow resistance through the valve, ensuring efficient system operation. This design is particularly suitable for working conditions requiring high flow and low pressure loss.
(2) Bidirectional sealing
The bidirectional sealing design ensures good sealing performance under bidirectional flow conditions, providing better operational flexibility and reliability.
(3) Metal seats
The metal-seated butterfly valve typically uses metal-to-metal sealing, with the sealing surface specially treated for excellent wear and high-temperature resistance. This ensures good sealing and durability under harsh conditions.
(4) High-strength valve body material
The valve body is typically made of high-quality stainless steel or high-strength alloy steel, ensuring mechanical strength and corrosion resistance, and adapting to various complex working conditions.
Functional features
(1) Good sealing performance
The metal seat structure and bidirectional sealing design ensure good sealing, preventing leakage even under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions.
(2) Wear and corrosion resistance
High-strength materials and specially treated sealing surfaces provide excellent wear and corrosion resistance, making the valve suitable for working conditions containing particulate and corrosive media.
(3) Low flow resistance
The full-bore design provides lower fluid resistance, reducing energy loss and improving efficient system operation.
(4) Bidirectional flow
The bidirectional sealing design allows flow in either direction, enhancing flexibility and ease of operation.
(5) Long service life
High-strength materials and quality craftsmanship ensure the valve’s durability, reducing maintenance frequency and replacement costs and extending service life.
Working Principles
The full-bore bidirectional metal-seated butterfly valve opens, closes and adjusts the flow rate by rotating the butterfly plate. The butterfly plate rotates in the valve body along an axis perpendicular to the direction of the fluid. When the butterfly plate is parallel to the pipeline, the valve is fully open. When perpendicular, the valve is closed. The bidirectional sealing design allows fluid to flow from either direction, ensuring flexibility and reliability.
Applications
Full-bore bidirectional metal-seated butterfly valves are widely used in:
Overview
The triple eccentric metal-seated butterfly valve, widely used in the market, has the significant advantages of high-pressure bearing capacity and long service life, but it also has defects of low reverse pressure bearing capacity and large flow channel area occupied by the valve seat. Especially the small and medium-sized valves have a relatively large flow resistance coefficient and high energy consumption. To overcome the above defects, this paper introduces a technical solution and design calculation method for a full-bore bidirectional metal-seated butterfly valve using a floating valve seat.
Main structural components
(1) Valve Bodies
The valve body is the main pressure-bearing component of the butterfly valve, usually made from high-strength stainless steel or alloy steel to ensure good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance in high pressure and corrosive media. The full-bore design minimizes fluid flow resistance through the valve, ensuring efficient system operation.
(2) Valve Discs
The disc is the core component of the butterfly valve, whose rotation enables the valve to open, close, and regulate the flow rate. The disc is usually made of materials with the same or higher strength as the valve body and is specially hardened to improve wear and corrosion resistance. The disc’s design directly affects the valve’s flow resistance characteristics and sealing performance.
(3) Valve Seats
The valve seat forms a sealing surface with the disc and is usually made from materials such as carbide or ceramic, which have excellent wear resistance and high-temperature resistance. The bidirectional sealing design allows the valve to maintain good sealing performance under bidirectional flow conditions, providing better operational flexibility and reliability.
(4) Valve Stems
The stem connects the disc and the actuator, transmitting the operating force to rotate the disc. The stem is usually made from high-strength stainless steel, precision machined and heat treated to ensure sufficient strength and corrosion resistance. The stem’s design and manufacturing quality directly affect the valve’s operational flexibility and sealing performance.
(5) Packing Glands
The packing gland seals the gap between the stem and the valve body to prevent the medium from leaking. High-performance sealing materials such as flexible graphite and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) are usually used, which have good corrosion and high-temperature resistance. The packing’s sealing performance directly affects the valve’s overall sealing effect.
(6) Actuators
The actuator drives the rotation of the valve stem and butterfly plate and can be manual, pneumatic, electric, or hydraulic. The actuator selection should be based on specific working conditions and operating habits. High-performance actuators ensure reliable valve operation under various complex working conditions.
Structural features
The design of full-bore bidirectional metal-seated butterfly valve has the following main features:
(1) Full-bore design
The full-bore design minimize flow resistance through the valve, ensuring efficient system operation. This design is particularly suitable for working conditions requiring high flow and low pressure loss.
(2) Bidirectional sealing
The bidirectional sealing design ensures good sealing performance under bidirectional flow conditions, providing better operational flexibility and reliability.
(3) Metal seats
The metal-seated butterfly valve typically uses metal-to-metal sealing, with the sealing surface specially treated for excellent wear and high-temperature resistance. This ensures good sealing and durability under harsh conditions.
(4) High-strength valve body material
The valve body is typically made of high-quality stainless steel or high-strength alloy steel, ensuring mechanical strength and corrosion resistance, and adapting to various complex working conditions.
Functional features
(1) Good sealing performance
The metal seat structure and bidirectional sealing design ensure good sealing, preventing leakage even under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions.
(2) Wear and corrosion resistance
High-strength materials and specially treated sealing surfaces provide excellent wear and corrosion resistance, making the valve suitable for working conditions containing particulate and corrosive media.
(3) Low flow resistance
The full-bore design provides lower fluid resistance, reducing energy loss and improving efficient system operation.
(4) Bidirectional flow
The bidirectional sealing design allows flow in either direction, enhancing flexibility and ease of operation.
(5) Long service life
High-strength materials and quality craftsmanship ensure the valve’s durability, reducing maintenance frequency and replacement costs and extending service life.
Working Principles
The full-bore bidirectional metal-seated butterfly valve opens, closes and adjusts the flow rate by rotating the butterfly plate. The butterfly plate rotates in the valve body along an axis perpendicular to the direction of the fluid. When the butterfly plate is parallel to the pipeline, the valve is fully open. When perpendicular, the valve is closed. The bidirectional sealing design allows fluid to flow from either direction, ensuring flexibility and reliability.
Applications
Full-bore bidirectional metal-seated butterfly valves are widely used in:
- The oil and gas industry
- The chemical industry
- The power industry
- Water treatment
- The paper and sugar industries
Conclusion
Full-bore bidirectional metal-seated butterfly valves are widely used in many industrial fields due to their unique design and superior performance. With continuous advancements in science and technology and process improvements, the valve’s performance will continue to be optimized and its application scope expanded. In the future, these valves will play an important role in more demanding conditions, providing reliable performance for various industries.
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