Wafer Butterfly Valves

Wafer Butterfly Valves

Wafer butterfly valves are typically sandwiched between two flanges using bolts and nuts; the pressure of the nuts on the backside of the flange holds the valve in place. Wafer butterfly valves are the more common of the two designs of butterfly valves, the other design being lug style. In addition to being easier to install, wafer butterfly valves are cheaper than the lug style. The only disadvantage is that, unlike lug designs, wafer butterfly valves cannot be moved.

Wafer butterfly valves consist of a seal that fits around the wall of a pipe, a round disc, and a control lever. The wafer butterfly valves discs' rotates ninety degrees at the turn of the lever. When the disc is parallel to the flow of water, the valve is in open position and lets all gases or liquids pass; when the handle is turned, the disc rotates around to a position parallel to the flow of water. In this closed position, the disc fits snugly into the seal and blocks all flow through the pipe.

Wafer butterfly valves can be made of a variety of materials, including stainless steel, plastic, and other metals. Wafer butterfly valves are used to control the flow in water distribution, chemical services, and ventilation applications.