2025 Complete Selection Guide to Butterfly Valve Types and Applications

1. Market Demand for Butterfly Valves Amid Industrial Upgrades

In traditional pipeline control systems, Butterfly Valves are widely used in water treatment, HVAC, chemical, and oil industries due to their simple structure, low cost, and easy maintenance. However, as industrial automation and system complexity accelerate, users face numerous challenges in selecting and sourcing butterfly valves, such as: Wide variations in system pressure, Chemical or food-grade media requirements, Automation upgrades, Strict factory inspection and certification demands, Long-term maintenance and spare part costs.

How can users select the most suitable Butterfly Valve Type for their specific system? How can they ensure the butterfly valves are both reliable and cost-effective? This article offers an in-depth analysis of butterfly valve types and applications, providing actionable selection and procurement advice.

2. Butterfly Valves Types and Their Core Advantages

2.1 Wafer Butterfly Valve

  ● Structure: Sandwiched between two flanges and fixed with a central wafer;

  ● Pressure Rating: PN10–PN16;

  ● Advantages: Lowest cost and lightweight, Easy to install and remove, Ideal for general water, air, and HVAC systems;

  ● Disadvantages: Typically one-way flow, Not suitable for high-pressure or aggressive media

  ● Typical Applications: Fire protection networks, cooling water systems, central air conditioning

  ● Selection Tip: Choose wafer-type valves when operating pressure is within PN10–PN16, bi-directional flow is not critical, budget is limited, or ease of maintenance is prioritized.

For more info, explore our Wafer Butterfly Valves.

2.2 Lug Butterfly Valve

  ● Structure: Flanged design with threaded lugs allowing one-side pipe removal

  ● Pressure Rating: PN10–PN25

  ● Advantages: Allows downstream maintenance without system shutdown, Suitable for bi-directional sealing

  ● Disadvantages: Higher cost than wafer type, Slightly more complex to install

  ● Typical Applications: Fire systems, chemical processing, potable water projects

  ● Selection Tip: Best for systems requiring high reliability and uninterrupted operation, such as municipal water supply, fine chemical pipelines, or lab gas control.

For more info, explore our Lug Butterfly Valve.

2.3 High-Performance Double Offset / Triple Offset Butterfly Valve

  ● Structure:

    Double Offset Butterfly Valves: The disc moves off center from the seat and shaft

    Triple Offset Butterfly Valves: Only edge of disc contacts the seat—allowing metal-to-metal or metal-to-polymer sealing

  ● Pressure Rating: PN25–PN40+

  ● Advantages: High sealing performance—can achieve zero leakage, Ideal for high-pressure, high-temperature, or corrosive media

  ● Disadvantages: High cost, Demands high manufacturing precision

  ● Typical Applications: Oil & gas, steam systems, chemical distillation, pressure vessel lines

  ● Selection Tip: Choose double or triple offset types for systems involving steam, high pressure, corrosive media, or requiring API 598 compliance.

For more info, explore our Double Offset Butterfly Valve.

3. Industry Application of Different Butterfly Valves Types

3.1 Water Treatment & Municipal Supply

  ● Recommended Types: Wafer Butterfly Valves, Lug Butterfly Valves, or High-Performance Double Offset Butterfly Valves;

  ● Pain Points: Need for flexible flow control, Frequent on-off cycling, Regulatory requirements for potable water materials (EPDM, NBR, ductile iron);

  ● Advice: Use wafer valves with elastic seals for standard systems; upgrade to lug valves where frequent maintenance is required.

3.2 HVAC and Central Air Systems

  ● Recommended Type: Wafer Butterfly Valve;

  ● Pain Points: Dynamic balancing, Fast response time, Tight installation spaces;

  ● Advice: Choose wafer valves with position feedback to integrate with smart building control systems.

3.3 Oil, Gas, and Offshore Platforms

  ● Recommended Types: High-Performance Double Offset Butterfly Valves, Triple Offset Butterfly Valves;

  ● Pain Points: Corrosive and high-pressure fluids, Strict zero-leakage policies;

  ● Advice: Select offset valves with corrosion-resistant linings and pressure ratings ≥ 1.5×PN for mission-critical systems.

3.4 Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries

  ● Recommended Types:Double or Triple Offset Butterfly Valves with Stainless Steel/PTFE;

  ● Pain Points: Strong acid/base exposure, CIP (Clean-In-Place) and SIP (Sterilize-In-Place) requirements;

  ● Advice: Opt for food-grade seals and stainless steel body materials that support automatic cleaning cycles.

3.5 Power and Steam Systems

  ● Recommended Type: High-Performance Butterfly Valve;

  ● Pain Points: High-temperature steam, Frequent cycling wears down seals;

  ● Advice: Use metal-sealed high-performance valves with stroke limiters and position feedback for long-term reliability.

For detailed Application Cases and guidance on selecting Butterfly Valve Types, please check our webiste: https://www.yaxing-valve.com/

4. Selection Strategy & Procurement Recommendations

5. Conclusion of Butterfly Valves Types

Selecting a Butterfly Valve is no longer just about matching specifications—it’s about optimizing system performance, cost structure, and regulatory compliance. We suggest industrial buyers to begin with application-specific needs, take a rational approach to valve selection, and partner with technically competent manufacturers to build a sustainable, intelligent, and high-reliability valve system.

If you need project consultation, valve selection charts, or technical support, feel free to Contact Us for customized solutions.