Shutdown Valve for Hydrocarbon Service: Butterfly Valve, Any Concern?

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Thread Starter

Hamid

Hi,

We need to put a shutdown valve for a hydrocarbon service. We have delivery time constraint where ball valve option cannot meet however there is an option of a butterfly valve with desired delivery and all the required certificates.

What are the drawbacks of using a butterfly valve instead?

In this particular instance, it is a cryogenic application as well.

Regards
Hamid
 
Hamid,

Both valves should be quarter-turn to close, so it must take exactly the same time to close them, the difference here is the actuating mechanism. You should find a ball valve with fast enough actuator, pneumatic or motor operated.

Another thing you should consider, and which is really important, is that ball valve gives you tight shutoff, where as butterfly doesn't, that is probably why ball valve was suggested in first place. Keep that in mind.

I've used butterfly valves as shutdown valves on Hydrocarbon line, but it was hydrocarbons, not cryogenic liquid, no comments on that.
Hope this helps.
 
A

Asok Kumar Hait

Hamid,

Traditionally ball valve has been used for shutdown applications because of mainly two reasons:

- They are easily available with tight shut-off (class VI) or zero leakage (API 6D);

- They are available as fire safe

Now a days some high performance butterfly valves are also available with tight shut-off and fire safe capability.

If these two factors can be fulfilled technically there is no concern using a butterfly valve in place of ball valve.
 
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