Choosing the suitable valve for your application is extremely important when it comes to designing a process system. When it comes to various processing applications, the two valves - control valves and butterfly valves are very popular.

They are both involved in controlling the flow within a process, however, they aren’t termed to be synonymous. However, there are a lot of us who are curious if they are both intended to be used for performing the same thing, can butterfly valves replace control valves in a process application.

Well, if you want to know then make sure to keep reading till the end.

Defining Control Valves

A control valve which is also known to be a control nozzle is a type of valve used in several industries to control the flow of materials depending on instruction inputs of a controller.

Control valves are also capable of altering the size of the passageway through which gasses or fluids get processed through a system. In effect, the installation of control valves enable them to regulate the pressure levels and keep in check the amounts of materials passing through the system.

Oil and gas processing applications are the most common where there is requirement for flow and pressure monitoring and control valves are the best job for it.

Defining Butterfly Valves

A butterfly valve functions differently than ball valves and other types of valves that are used in processing applications. It differs in ways  that make butterfly valves more durable and improved sealing.

A butterfly valve includes a disk that rotates to open or close and it is able to be done with a low-torque, rapid rotation of 90 degrees. The triple offset butterfly valves are a category of butterfly valve family that can take on extreme high and low temperatures, withstand reactive chemicals without eroding and vast levels of pressure.

Specialized qualities as such makes butterfly valves to be used in high-risk or potentially hazardous applications such as petroleum processing and energy generation, etc.

Replacing Control Valves for Butterfly Valves - Is it Possible?

We see a lot of similarities between the two valves so can butterfly valves really replace control valves - that's the question we are pondering upon. Well, butterfly valves can significantly be substituted for control valves.

As butterfly valves deal with controlling the flow of materials within the process. Butterfly valves are not just replaceable with any other kind of control valve above 50 mm but they are also the best type of valve to be used when there is no requirement for precise regulation and needs 20 to 80% operations.

Perks of Using Butterfly Valves

Butterfly valves are also very popular among experts because of the array of benefits that they offer. Some of them are -

  • SIL-3 rated butterfly valves offer balanced safety and reliability accompanied with cost-effectiveness.
  • Frictionless closure as the valve is adjusted to regulate flow.
  • Long-lasting and low maintenance materials used to make butterfly valves capable of withstanding extreme temperatures and pressure.
  • Triple offset butterfly valves deliver 100% leak-free performance out of all control valve options.

So, what are you waiting for? If there is unavailability of control valves then you can easily go with butterfly valve installation.