Today I am going to describe the differences between the ball valve and a butterfly valve.
It is very important to know the difference between the ball valve and a butterfly valve. A ball valve and a butterfly valve have some similarities like both have a 90-degree turn from fully opened to fully closed. Both types of valves can control the flow of most types of gases or liquids across a wide range of temperatures and pressures.
Before knowing the difference between the ball valve and a butterfly valve, let us get some idea about the ball valve and a butterfly valve.
Table of Contents
What is Ball Valve
If I describe it in simple words, it is like a ball with a hole running through it. Fluid can be partially or fully blocked by turning the valve positions.
What is Butterfly Valve
It is a disk-mounted valve that rotates on a shaft. If it is fully closed, the disk completely blocks the line. If it is fully opened, the disk is at a right angle to the flow of fluid.
Butterfly Valve vs Ball Valve
Here are some key differences between the ball valve and a butterfly valve.
| Butterfly Valve | Ball Valve |
|---|---|
| Butterfly valves are lightweight valves. Due to its low weight, transfers less load to pipe supports. | The ball valve is very heavyweight. |
| The butterfly valve comprises a thin disk in a thin body. It has a very simple design. | Ball valves have a sphere-like disc inside a bulky body. It has a slightly complex design. |
| Less space is required to install the butterfly valve. | More space is required to install butterfly valves. |
| At high differential pressure, butterfly valves are prone to leakage. | Ball valves provide a tight seal. |
| The butterfly valve disc limits the flow by creating a huge pressure drop. | It does not have much pressure compared to the butterfly valve. |
| Suitable for ON/OFF control and proportional control | Suitable for modulating and ON/OFF Control. However, they are more used for isolation purposes. |
| It is cheaper. | It is expensive. |
| Butterfly valves have a flange style with a lug or wafer design. | A range of connections is available in the market for ball valves. |
| Used for Liquid service applications. | Ball valves are suitable for handling both liquid and gases. |
| Normally it is used for low temperature and pressure services. | It is used for high-temperature and pressure services. |
| Butterfly valves can have only two ports. | Ball valves can have more than two ports. |