The butterfly valve-also known as a flap valve-is a type of control valve characterized by its simple structure; it is utilized for both on/off control and flow regulation within low-pressure piping systems. Its closing element (the valve disc or "butterfly plate") is a circular plate that rotates around a central shaft to achieve the objectives of opening and closing the valve. These valves are capable of controlling the flow of a wide variety of fluids-including air, water, steam, various corrosive media, slurries, oils, liquid metals, and radioactive substances-and are widely employed across sectors such as petroleum, chemical engineering, electric power, water treatment, and thermal power plant cooling water systems.
The opening and closing mechanism of a butterfly valve consists of a circular disc (the butterfly plate) that rotates around its own axis within the valve body to achieve the functions of opening, closing, or flow regulation. Butterfly valves feature a simple and compact design; they operate within a rotational range of 0 to 90 degrees, requiring only a 90-degree turn for rapid opening and closing, and are characterized by minimal pressure loss. Sealing mechanisms are broadly categorized into elastic (soft) seals and metal-to-metal seals, with the latter being particularly suitable for high-temperature operating environments. Triple-eccentric butterfly valves, which utilize a metal-to-metal face-sealing mechanism, are specifically deployed within the petroleum, petrochemical, and general chemical industries. Furthermore, intelligent butterfly valves offer response latencies as low as 0.3 seconds and achieve a 40% reduction in energy consumption.
