Butterfly, Ball and Globe valves are commonly used in various industries such as water treatment, oil & gas, chemical processing and pharmaceutical. While these three valves have been designed to serve the same purpose of controlling the flow of fluids, they have clear differences when it comes to design, features and overall performance. And because of these distinctions, these valves are suitable for different applications.
Butterfly Valves
These are valves where fluid flow control is managed by rotating a disc or a vane in the centre of the valve body. The disc is attached to a stem that runs through the valve body and connects to a handle on the outside (of the valve). Once powered on, the disc starts rotating either parallel or perpendicular to the flow direction, controlling the fluid passage through the valve.
- Butterfly valves come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 1 inch to over 100 inches, and are frequently used in large-diameter applications.
- Butterfly valves are light and compact and can be easy to install.
- There are two kinds of butterfly valves – wafer and lug. The former one has its valves sandwiched between two flanges and held in place by bolts. The latter one has threaded inserts or lugs that are bolted to the valve body.
- Butterfly valves are suitable for applications that call for fast shut-off. In fact, they are preferred over other valves when quick operation is required.
- Butterfly valves are available in various core material options, such as metal and plastic, making them suitable for a wide range of fluids.
- Butterfly valves are a cost-effective option.
- Butterfly valves are used in water distribution, wastewater treatment, HVAC systems, and in industries such as food processing and chemical manufacturing.
Ball Valves
Like
butterfly valves, ball valves are built on the principle of simple designs. Both valves are controlled manually and are used in a wide range of industries. Below are a few features of ball valves.
- Ball valves feature a hollow, spherical ball, and at the top of the ball, you can see a shaft which can be rotated by a handle to open or close. When the valve is open, the hole aligns with the pipe, allowing the flow. And when it is turned 90 degrees, the flow is blocked.
- Ball valves offer excellent sealing. The upstream fluid pressure pushes the ball against the seal, creating a secure shut-off. Ball valves can open easily even when there’s a significant pressure difference on both sides, eliminating the need for a pressure-balancing bypass.
- Ball valves may require a larger space than butterfly valves.
- Ball valves come with the promise of fast operation as there is minimum resistance to flow when the valve is fully open.
Globe Valves
The name is derived from the fact that these valves are typically spherical in shape. A
globe valve has a disk that moves in a straight line along the seal to open or close the valve. One notable advantage of a globe valve is that the stem has a relatively short travel distance for opening and closing, making it the perfect choice for throttling, regulating, or shutting off liquid flow.
Below are a few features of globe valves.
- Globe valves require multiple turns of the valve handle to open or close, offering more precise flow control. This makes them ideal for a range of applications where precise dosage is required.
- Compared to butterfly valves and ball valves, globe valves have a more complex design.
- Higher pressure drops due to the flow path through the valve body.
- Globe valves are usually more expensive than ball or butterfly valves.
To sum it up, butterfly valves are a lightweight, cost-effective option for fast operation setups. Ball valves are suitable for on/off applications. They also offer tight sealing and withstand a range of temperatures and pressures. Globe valves are typically more expensive and provide excellent flow regulation and a higher pressure drop.
Industrial Valves by Richter
Working under the wings of IDEX Corporation, Richter is known as one of the leading valve manufacturers in India. All Richter valves are designed to work with highly corrosive fluids and are fluoroplastic lined. Besides corrosive fluids, Richter valves are suitable for pure liquids, chlorinated water, chemicals and solvents of various kinds.
Ball valves by Richter come with ENVIPACK stuffing box sealing, offering reliability even in extreme conditions. These valves are suitable for applications including processed and dry air, caustic soda, H2SO4, HCI, and brine.
Butterfly valves by Richter are highly reliable, can handle a maximum pressure of 10 bar, are PFA lined and can work within a temperature range of -40 °C to +200 °C.
To learn more about the valves offered by Richter, please click on the following link.
https://www.idexindia.in/richter/ 
