When choosing the right butterfly valve for your process, the choices can feel overwhelming. But if your process involves solids, and especially dry, bulk solids (abrasives, powders, granules, etc.), the choices are far fewer. There are just very few valves that are designed for solids. Using a valve designed for liquids or gas may work…for a while. And then you soon discover the life of the valve is far from desirable. Selecting the correct type of butterfly valve can save your operation money in the long run and prevent future costs and headaches due to unexpected shut downs.
So, then, what is the difference between an inflatable seated butterfly valve and a resilient seated butterfly valve?
The short answer:
Resilient seated butterfly valves were initially designed for use in oil piping, and inflatable seated butterfly valves were initially designed for dry, bulk solids. Resilient seated butterfly valves drive a disc into a static rubber seat, displacing the rubber to make a seal. Inflatable seated butterfly valves position a disc beside an inflatable seat and inflate the seat to make a seal.
The history:
The reason why resilient seated butterfly valves were initially used in oil piping is because the oil lubricated the contact between the disc and seat allowing for a satisfactory valve life and also reasonable torque requirements to open and close the valve. Without this lubrication, the friction between the disc and seat would quickly abrade the seat leading to a very short valve life.
The Posi-flate inflatable seated butterfly valve was developed in response to the inadequate performance of resilient seated butterfly valves in processes handling dry bulk solids. A better design was required, a design that eliminated the friction between the disc and the seat.
Later it was discovered that inflatable seated butterfly valves also provided a distinct advantage in processes handling gasses, slurries, and other abrasive or non-lubricating liquids.
Key Takeaways
- Inflatable seats use air pressure to create a seal while eliminating friction.
- Resilient seats rely on forcing the disc into the seat creating high friction, which can lead to quick wear and early failure when the fluid handled is not a lubricant.
- Choosing the right valve can lower your overall operational costs over time.
- In dry bulk material processes, an inflatable seated butterfly valve can operate 20x the cycles of a resilient seated valve.
- The cost of a valve failure is much more than the cost of the valve. Safety, downtime, and removal and reinstallation are far more significant than the valve cost.
- In most cases, an inflatable seated butterfly valve can be installed in the same space occupied by a resilient seated butterfly valve.
- Eliminating the disc-to-seat friction not only increases the valve life, but it decreases contamination. This is because when a resilient seated valve disc abrades the seat, small crumbs of the rubber seat fall into the process.
- A better design creates a longer valve life.
Basic Qualities of an Inflatable Seated Valve
The Posi-flate butterfly valve uses air pressure to inflate the seat against the disc. This unique design creates a tight seal every time the valve closes. This process eliminates the friction as the disc opens and closes.
How it works
Closed, Unsealed
As the valve rotates into the closed position, the disc makes only casual contact with the seat, reducing friction, wear and torque requirements.
Closed, Sealed
After the valve is closed, the seat inflates against the disc providing more sealing surface and an even pressure distribution against the disc.
Open, Unsealed
Before the valve opens, the seat is first deflated. The disc is then free to rotate to the open position.
Additionally, the Posi-flate inflatable seat automatically compensates for wear, providing longer valve life. This automatic adjustment means the valve maintains its tight seal even after many cycles. Operators can count on consistent performance without constant manual adjustments. It is a smart engineering design that prioritizes durability and process efficiency.
Comparing the Two
A major factor in long term plant efficiency is how often your process shuts down and for how long due to valve failure. When comparing resilient seated valves and inflatable seated valves, the difference in design becomes obvious when lubricating fluids are not being handled. A resilient seated butterfly valve forces the disc into the static seat, causing impingement which results in excessive seat wear, and a short valve life. Alternatively, the Posi-flate inflatable seated butterfly valve eliminates this friction, leading to longer valve life. You can see a detailed comparison of these two mechanisms by watching this comparative valve video:
Our High-Quality Inflatable Seated Butterfly Valves
For plants looking for the best performance when handling non-lubricating fluids, Posi-flate butterfly valves are an excellent choice. They are designed to handle gasses, slurries, liquids, and dry bulk materials, including abrasives, while delivering a long service life. For example, in a foundry sand molding machine application, the Posiflate valve had a service life of over 2 million cycles, compared to a resilient seated valve lasting less than 50,000 cycles.
Posi-flate valves operate under various pressure conditions, making them versatile for many different industrial applications. Choosing a reliable valve helps keep your plant running and reduces costly downtime and maintenance expenses. Investing in quality upfront keeps your plant running.
Helping You Make Your Selection
Finding the right equipment for your facility does not have to be a solo effort. The experienced Posi-flate staff is ready to help clients navigate the selection process from start to finish. Our team looks at your unique system requirements, pressure and temperature limits, and budget to find the perfect match. We make sure you get a solution that keeps your long-term system maintenance stress to a minimum.
By analyzing your specific application, our experts help you avoid the mistake of buying the wrong valve for your application. We guide you through the technical details with simple, straightforward advice so you can make a confident choice. Our staff focuses on maximizing your system efficiency while keeping your overall maintenance costs down. With professional guidance, you can buy a valve that delivers peak performance for years to come.
Contact Us
If you want to manage your facility maintenance expenses, upgrading your valves is a great step. Choosing the right components can positively impact your total operational budget over the years. Quality valves ensure that you will not have to deal with frequent replacements. Our team is ready to help you find the perfect fit for your specific needs.
Contact us today, or visit our quote page to get quoted on a price. We can help you select the right inflatable seated butterfly valve for your upcoming projects. Let Posi-flate provide the reliable solutions you need for a secure and efficient operation.