Performance comparison analysis of sanitary ball valve and sanitary butterfly valve

Sanitary ball valves and butterfly valves each have their own characteristics and significant performance advantages in sanitary, food, dairy, pharmacy and chemical applications. Ball valves excel in precision sealing, high-pressure handling and corrosion-resistant fluids, while butterfly valves are favored for their cost-effectiveness, large flow rate and suitability for low-pressure large systems.

Sanitary ball valve vs butterfly valve

Sanitary ball valves:

Precision sealing:

PTFE soft seal, bidirectional zero leakage when closed and excellent leak-proof performance, usually achieve "airtight" closing. This is essential for critical isolation applications that require zero leakage.

Full-bore design: 

Sanitary ball valves are all full-bore designs, which means that the inner diameter of the valve is the same as the pipe. The result is minimum pressure drop: extremely low flow resistance, maximizing flow efficiency.

High temperature and high temperature processing:

Ball valves are generally more suitable for relatively high-pressure and high-temperature systems, such as pressure 10bar.

Corrosion resistance:

Stainless steel construction makes it an ideal choice for handling corrosive or abrasive fluids common in industries such as pharmaceuticals.

Minimum pressure drop:

When fully open, ball valves provide an unobstructed flow path, thereby reducing pressure drop and improving efficiency.

Higher Cost:

Generally, ball valves are more expensive than butterfly valves, especially in larger sizes.

Ideal for Viscous Fluids and Particulates:

Thick liquids, slurries, or fluids containing fine suspended solids can be easily passed without clogging.

Reduces Risk of Water Hammer:

Slower closing times (compared to very fast butterfly valves) can help mitigate water hammer, but rapid closing can still cause water hammer.

Hygienic butterfly valve working video:

Sanitary Butterfly Valves:

Economically Efficient:

Butterfly valves are generally more economical, especially for large-diameter pipes and systems where cost is a major consideration.

Higher Flow:

Butterfly valves can handle higher flow rates and are suitable for large-scale applications.

Space Efficiency:

Butterfly valves are compact and suitable for space-constrained applications.

Moderate Pressure and Temperature Handling:

They perform well at moderate pressures and temperatures, but may not be suitable for extreme environments. For large sizes above DN200/6", the pressure can only reach 6 bar.

Possibility of pressure drop:

Compared with full-bore ball valves, the flow restriction and pressure drop are greater.

Not suitable for abrasive/viscous fluids: Abrasive media may cause wear of the valve disc and valve seat and hinder the flow of fluids with high viscosity or containing large particles. Not suitable for pigging.

Can be used for powders:

Butterfly valves can be designed as powder butterfly valves for various container equipment systems such as powders, granules, capsules, etc., and can be used in vacuum environments.

Cleaning precautions:

The gaps around the valve disc and the sealing surface may block the medium and require more thorough cleaning.

Flow regulation:

Although they are effective for on/off functions, they may not be suitable for precise flow control or throttling, especially at low flows.

In summary

The choice between sanitary ball valves and butterfly valves depends on the specific application requirements, including fluid characteristics, pressure and temperature conditions, flow requirements, cost considerations, and space constraints. If zero leakage/gas-tight closure is critical, full-bore flow, and higher pressure and temperature are designed, ball valves can be preferred. If space is limited, cost savings are required, and frequent adjustments are required, butterfly valves can be preferred.

Sanitary ball valves working video