Reasons to Install Motorized Butterfly Valves
Motorized butterfly valves provide a great amount of control over process media flowing through the pipelines of a system. A variety of reasons call for the need to manipulate the amount of liquid or gas flowing in a certain direction at a certain time. In fact, several systems require the ability to stop flow altogether if production needs call for it. A motorized butterfly valve can quickly and reliably respond to any of these needs, and the resulting flow will be aligned with best results for production.
A motorized butterfly valve operates by changing the position of a round disc that is located within a pipeline. The disc is the size of the pipe circumference, which allows it to create a reliable seal during instances when it is necessary to restrict or stop the flow of process media. Motorized butterfly valves are available in a variety of sizes, so any factory will be able to order one that specifically fits and operates within their pipelines. The most common ranges of sizes for butterfly valves and their discs is between a couple inches and a couple feet, although larger industrial applications of this particular valve may span quite a bit larger than those typical ranges.
When a motorized butterfly valve disc is in the closed position, the pipeline is completely blocked and flow is stopped. The disc for the valve is attached to the valve shaft, which is then controlled by a motor. When this motor moves the valve to the open position, the disc is parallel to the pipeline and liquids are able to flow past the disc on either side. There is still a drop in flow volume, because the disc itself is still present within the pipeline. However, flow is permitted to pass. If flow needs to be throttled, controlled, or regulated for volume as production needs change, the motor can turn the disc to a position where it is partially open. If a changing amount of process media volume flow is needed for production, the motorized butterfly valve can adjust during the process to supply appropriate amounts of liquid.
Different actuator options are available for powering motorized butterfly valves. Electric, hydraulic, and pneumatic options are available for different applications of the fixture, and companies are free to select the type of actuator that will best meet their needs. The amount of pressure and power that will be necessary to move and operate the motorized butterfly valves needs to be considered when a company is selecting the type of actuator to install, as hydraulic and pneumatic actuators will be able to provide a greater amount of pressure. Certain large production operations and large volumes of thick substances may require this extra pressure, but factory settings will also need enough space to install pumps for the pneumatic and hydraulic actuators. Electric actuators are generally easier to wire and install, and they also provide a simpler process when conducting diagnostics. Overall, there are several options for motorized butterfly valves available, and a company will be able to manipulate the flow of liquid through their system more easily after one is successfully installed.