Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 01-15-2026 Origin: Site
In the vast, continuous networks that make up municipal and industrial water systems, efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness are paramount. Valves serve as the critical control points in these lifelines, and among them, thebutterfly valve has become the undisputed workhorse for a wide range of applications. Its design offers an unparalleled balance of performance, practicality, and value. This article details the core applications, selection principles, and advantages of butterfly valves throughout the entire water cycle.
The widespread adoption of butterfly valves in water and wastewater is driven by key functional benefits that address industry-specific needs:
Space and Weight Savings: The compact wafer or lug design allows for installation between flanges without the need for long pipe spools, drastically reducing the footprint in crowded pump stations, treatment basins, and valve vaults compared to traditional gate valves.
Economic Efficiency: Lower material requirements and simpler installation translate to significant savings on both capital expenditure (CAPEX) and installation labor, especially in larger diameters (DN300+).
Operational Efficiency: The quarter-turn operation enables rapid isolation and is perfectly suited for automation with electric or pneumatic actuators, facilitating seamless integration into modern SCADA-controlled systems.
Hydraulic Performance: A well-designed disc presents minimal obstruction when fully open, resulting in very low head loss and contributing to reduced long-term pumping energy costs.
Reliable Sealing: Modern elastomeric liners (like EPDM or NBR) provide dependable, bubble-tight shut-off, essential for process isolation, system segmentation, and leak prevention.
1. Raw Water Intake & Preliminary Treatment
Applications: Isolation at river, lake, or reservoir intake points, screens, and pre-treatment settling basins.
Valve Focus: Durability against raw water containing silt, debris, and varying pH levels. **Full-lug body designs** are often specified for end-of-line service. **Epoxy-coated internal components** provide an effective barrier against initial corrosion.
2. Chemical Treatment & Process Control
Applications: Dosing lines for coagulants, pH adjusters, and disinfectants like chlorine or sodium hypochlorite.
Valve Focus: Chemical resistance of all wetted parts is critical. While **EPDM seats** handle many common chemicals, lines carrying aggressive or high-purity chemicals benefit from valves featuring **inert PTFE or specialized fluoropolymer seats** for absolute integrity and longevity. Precise throttling capability is also a key requirement here.
3. Clearwater & Potable Water Distribution
Applications: Post-filtration systems, clearwell inlets/outlets, and main transmission pipelines.
Valve Focus: Compliance with stringent potable water standards (e.g., WRAS, ACS, NSF/ANSI 61) is mandatory. **Stainless steel (CF8M) discs** and **certified drinking water-grade EPDM seats** are standard. Hygiene, corrosion resistance, and zero-leakage reliability are non-negotiable.
4. Wastewater Collection & Treatment
Applications: Inlet works, primary and secondary sedimentation tanks, return activated sludge (RAS), and waste activated sludge (WAS) lines.
Valve Focus: Resistance to abrasive solids, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) corrosion, and microbial-induced corrosion (MIC). **Abrasion-resistant seat compounds** and **fully epoxy-coated or stainless-steel internals** are typical. Robust construction is needed to handle semi-solid media.
5. Effluent Discharge & Reuse
Applications: Treated wastewater outfall to the environment or transfer to reuse facilities.
Valve Focus: Corrosion resistance remains important for final effluent. Valves must provide reliable final isolation. Materials are selected based on the final effluent characteristics and environmental regulations.
Optimal performance hinges on correct specification. Key considerations include:
Body & Trim Material: Ductile iron with epoxy coating, stainless steel, or specialized alloys based on corrosivity.
Seat Material: **EPDM** for general potable water, **NBR** for certain oils/greases in wastewater, and **PTFE or FEP** for extreme chemical resistance or high-temperature applications.
End Connection: Wafer (for bidirectional isolation between flanges), Lug (for end-of-line service), or Double-Flanged (for high-pressure or severe service).
Actuation: Manual lever, gearbox, or automated electric/pneumatic actuators for remote control.
At Tianjin Worlds Valve Co., Ltd., we support the vital mission of water management with engineered valve solutions built for durability and performance.
Proven Compliance: Our systems and products are backed by **ISO 9001 certification** and carry major international approvals like **CE, UKCA, WRAS, and ACS**, ensuring they meet the rigorous health, safety, and performance standards required for global projects.
Application-Driven Configuration: We offer a comprehensive range of materials and designs—from standard **epoxy-coated valves with EPDM seats** for general service to **high-performance configurations with PTFE or alloy components** for demanding duties. Our engineers assist in selecting the optimal combination for your specific water quality and operating conditions.
Global Partnership & Customization: Our experience supplying to **over 50 countries** has honed our ability to support complex infrastructure projects. We provide flexible **OEM/ODM services** and are committed to delivering **superior quality, responsive support, and competitive value.**
Designing or upgrading a water or wastewater system requires components you can trust for decades of reliable service.
Connect with our technical team for a detailed consultation. Share your application parameters, and we will provide tailored recommendations to ensure your butterfly valve selection optimizes both performance and lifetime cost for your project.
