Various industrial applications use wafer type butterfly valve for on and off applications. Pipes are connected to the valve by bolts that are placed between them. Wafer style butterfly valves are also known as this type of valve. Bolts can cross from one pipe end to the other pipe end because wafer-type butterfly valve manufacturers design their valve bodies with short lengths. In the upstream and downstream sections of the valve, a gasket and O-rings are used to seal the pipe flanges with the valve. Manufacturers of wafer-type butterfly valves design this type of valve for bidirectional fluid flow. For applications that require universal fluid flow, there are also versions of these valves with a seal that prevents backflow.
Among quarter-turn valves, wafer-style butterfly valves fall into this category. A 90-degree rotation of the valve handle will open or close the valve. Discs are used to allow and block fluid flow. Discs remain within the flow passage, causing a pressure drop and reducing efficiency as a result. Their flow path makes them suitable for handling fluid, sludge, and slurries, which makes their application very broad. Additionally, these valves are cheaper and lighter than other valves like gate valves and globe valves.
Components of a wafer style butterfly valve
Valve body
This is the component that holds the internal parts of a wafer-type butterfly valve. Strong metals such as nickel alloy, brass, carbon steel, and stainless steel are used to make the body. The body is mounted between two pipe flanges. Additionally, the body is designed with a bolt head for holding the pipe and valve bolts.
Stem
The disc is connected to the handwheel/lever or actuator by this component of a wafer-type butterfly valve. To open or close the flow of fluid, the stem transmits torque to the disc.
Valve disc
The disc is the part of the wafer-type butterfly valve that opens and closes fluid flow. The disc must work properly as it affects the entire working and efficiency of the fluid flow. Through the valve stem, the disc is connected to the handwheel or actuator. By turning the valve a quarter turn, the valve can be opened or closed.
Seats
The manufacturers of wafer-type butterfly valves design these valves with two seats. Seats provide a surface for discs to rest on when valves are closed. When the valve is closed, this prevents fluid leakage. The seats are pressed onto the bodies, locked in place, or bonded together. Different materials are used for the seat, including metals, polymers, and elastomers.
Actuator/ handwheel
During the opening of a wafer butterfly valve, this component provides the torque needed to turn the stem.
How does a wafer-type butterfly valve work?
Butterfly valves with wafer-type stems work by turning them. Valve discs are connected to handwheels or actuators by stems. The torque responsible for opening and closing fluid flow is transmitted through this mechanism. To start the valve, the valve operator turns the handwheel 90 degrees anticlockwise. Through the stem, torque is transmitted from the handwheel to the valve disc. As the stem rotates, the disc rotates, allowing fluid to flow. To prevent obstructions in the flow passage, the disc rotates parallel to the fluid flow. Wafer-style butterfly valves are closed by rotating the handwheel in the opposite direction (clockwise). By doing so, the disc will rotate in the same direction as where it sits in the valve seat. Wafer-type butterfly valves have discs that are perpendicular to the fluid flow to ensure that no fluid crosses through them. The wafer-type butterfly valve can also be used for throttling. The valve operator turns the handwheel slightly to allow slight fluid flow.
Types of wafer type butterfly valves
Manual wafer type butterfly valve
The butterfly valve is operated manually and looks like a wafer. There is no actuator on this type of valve, but rather a handwheel or lever that operates it. The handwheel or lever is where the valve operator applies the torque needed to rotate the stem to open or close the valve. A manual wafer-type butterfly valve has the advantage of being cheaper than an actuated one. A manual type is also versatile since the user can add an actuator in the future if needed. Wafer-type butterfly valves can work when other valves, such as those powered by electricity, are not operational. A manual wafer-style butterfly valve, however, can be very dangerous for the valve operator, especially when it is working with flammable or acidic products which can cause a lot In the event of a leak, damage can occur.
Electric wafer type butterfly valve
The butterfly valve is powered by electricity and has a wafer-style design. In the process of converting electricity to mechanical energy, it is converted into heat. By providing torque to the valve disc, mechanical energy closes or opens the valve. Electric wafer-type butterfly valve manufacturers use an automated system to determine when the valve should be closed and opened. There are several components in the automated system that are powered by electricity. All parts of the actuator work together to start and close the valve. Electric butterfly valves have the advantage of being widely available and cheap, which makes them suitable for a wide range of uses.
Pneumatic wafer type butterfly valve
Using compressed air, this wafer-type butterfly valve starts and stops the fluid flow. Manufacturers of wafer-type butterfly valves design these valves with an automated system that coordinates all the parts of the actuator to determine when to open and close the valve. To convert energy into motion, the actuator converts it into rotary motion. By rotating the valve stem and disc, torque is applied to open and close the fluid flow by turning the valve stem and disc. Due to the use of air pressure, pneumatic wafer-type butterfly valves produce high amounts of torque. In addition to being durable and reliable, these valves are also cost-effective.
