Development History of Butterfly Valves
Butterfly valves, as a critical type of industrial valve, have evolved since the 19th century with several technological breakthroughs. Below are their key developmental stages:
1. Early雏形 (19th Century - Early 20th Century)
- The first butterfly valves featured 中线设计 (centered stem alignment), with a simple structure but poor sealing performance, primarily used for water flow control.
- In the 1930s, American scientists developed concentric butterfly valves, but seat friction issues led to leakage, limiting their use to non-sealing applications.
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2. Eccentric Design Innovations (Mid to Late 20th Century)
- Single Eccentric Butterfly Valve: The disc offset from the stem center reduced friction and improved sealing.
- Double Eccentric Butterfly Valve: Further offset from the body center enabled position sealing, though pressure resistance remained limited.
- Triple Eccentric Butterfly Valve: A three-dimensional offset design created gap-free sealing, suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.
3. Material Advancements &智能化发展 (Late 20th Century - Present)
- Material Progress: Synthetic rubber and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) significantly enhanced corrosion resistance and sealing performance. Metal-sealed butterfly valves now withstand extreme temperatures (-196°C to 565°C).
- 智能化趋势: CAD/CAM technology optimized manufacturing processes, extending metal-sealed valve life. Since the 21st century, butterfly valves increasingly integrate remote monitoring and intelligent control functions.
4. Expanded Applications
- Butterfly valves have partially replaced gate valves and ball valves, becoming the mainstream choice for large-to-medium diameters and medium-low-pressure applications. They are now widely used in industries such as oil, chemical processing, and environmental protection.
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