The Impact of Butterfly Valve Installation Orientation and Spatial Layout on Valve Performance
2025-08-01
The butterfly valve, as a compact, quick-opening, and low-resistance regulating valve, is widely used in industries such as water supply and drainage, HVAC, power, chemical, and paper-making. However, in practical engineering applications, improper consideration of the butterfly valve’s installation direction and spatial arrangement often leads to valve operating abnormalities, decreased sealing performance, and deviations in control accuracy. In severe cases, it can even cause system failures or frequent maintenance, resulting in unnecessary economic losses. Therefore, a correct understanding of the impact of installation orientation and spatial layout on butterfly valve performance is essential to ensure its reliable operation and extend its service life. 1. The Impact of Installation Orientation on Butterfly Valve Performance (1) Fluid Flow Direction and Its Effect on Sealing Performance For centerline butterfly valves, where the valve disc rotates around the valve shaft, the force is relatively symmetric, and the fluid flow direction has little impact on the sealing performance. Therefore, the flow direction requirement is not strict during installation. However, for eccentric butterfly valves, especially double-eccentric and triple-eccentric types, the seal design is based on the "flow-assisted compression" principle. That is, when the medium pressure comes from the specified direction, it pushes the valve disc toward the sealing seat, thereby enhancing the sealing effect. If the valve is installed in the opposite direction of the flow arrow marked by the manufacturer, the reverse fluid flow will wash the valve disc. Not only will the expected sealing effect not form, but it may also create gaps between the sealing surfaces, accelerate valve seat wear, and cause internal leakage, making it impossible to close the valve completely. Therefore, the installation of eccentric butterfly valves must strictly follow the flow direction requirements. (2) Valve Shaft Orientation and Its Effect on Opening/Closing Torque and Actuator The installation orientation of the valve shaft (horizontal or vertical) has a significant impact on the opening/closing performance, valve body stress, and actuator life. Most medium and small-sized butterfly valves are installed with the valve shaft in the horizontal position. This method facilitates the alignment of the valve body with the pipeline and the arrangement of the actuator. However, for large-diameter butterfly valves or those installed in high locations or vertical pipelines, the valve shaft is often vertical. In this position, the weight of the valve disc directly acts on the valve shaft, especially when the valve disc is in the open position, where its center of gravity deviates from the axis, creating a large eccentric torque and increasing the axial load during opening and closing. If the actuator does not account for this additional load, it may result in po...