Did you know industrial valves control the flow of liquids, gasses, and slurries? Without them, there would be no way to control the passageways through which these substances travel.
But, understanding the differences between valve types ensures you use suitable valves for your applications. For example, butterfly and ball valves are similar. So, which one should you choose?
Keep reading to learn everything in the butterfly valve vs. ball valve discussion.
Different Types of Valves
Choosing the most suitable valve for your application is crucial for proper application function. Each type of valve has unique characteristics. But sometimes, multiple valves may work for a specific purpose. There are five main types of valves. They are:
- Ball valves
- Butterfly valves
- Check valves
- Gate valves
- Globe valves
Ball valves and butterfly valves are the simplest of the different valves. They are both commonly used in domestic, commercial, and industrial applications. They can control the flow of fluids in a wide range of pressures and temperatures. Users can control these valves with an electric actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or manually.
Further, both are quarter-turn rotary valves, and they move 90º to open and close. They are reliable valves for accurate substance handling. These valves are made from solid materials such as stainless steel and cast iron.
Finally, both valves are affordable and long-lasting. Let’s dive further into comparing the butterfly valve vs. ball valve differences.
Butterfly Valve vs. Ball Valve
Ball valves use a ball to control the flow of a substance from one opening to the next. A floating ball has a hole running through it. These valves allow the user to open, partially open, or block the pipe.
Ball valves provide a tight seal. This is ideal for gas and high-pressure liquid flow. You will usually see ball valves in lines six inches or less in diameter.
They also have almost no resistance in use, even when the supply creates high pressure. Some ball valve designs offer no drop in pressure. Additionally, most of these valves can operate in temperatures between -30ºC and 230ºC.
There are various ball valves. They include:
- Full-port ball valve
- Reduced-port ball valve
- V-port ball valve
- Cavity filler ball valve
- Trunnion ball valve
Conversely, butterfly valves have a disk mounted on a rotating shaft. There are one- and two-piece designs and two types called lug and wafer.
When fully closed, the disk completely blocks the line. When fully open, the disk sits at a right angle. This allows for the flow of a substance. Butterfly valves are smaller and lighter than ball valves. So, they are faster to open and close.
Butterfly valves are ideal for large volume water systems like municipal waterworks and sewers.
Apply The Right Valves
Despite the similarities, there are fundamental differences in the butterfly valve vs. ball valve discussion. Now that you understand the distinctions, you can choose the most suitable valves for your applications.
If you found this article helpful, don’t forget to check out the rest of the blog for more information.
