Hygienic Valve Application
Pressure and Temperature: Sanitary ball valves can handle higher working pressure and temperature due to its robust construction and Teflon seat. Sanitary butterfly valves are more suitable for medium to low pressure applications. Sanitary check valves are installed in low pressure uses where preventing backflow is more important.
Frequency of use and Flow Control: Ball valves provide better flow control over butterfly valves because of its full bore. Its more durable Teflon seat is also better suited for frequent throttling.
Fluid Characteristics
Viscosity and Particulate Content: Hygienic ball valves work better for thicker and debris filled mediums due to its full bore. Hygienic butterfly valves face a higher risk of blockages around its disc. Hygienic check valves are even worse and are known to fail then its disc and spring is trapped.
Installation Space and Orientation
If space is limited, sanitary butterfly valves are the thinnest, followed by check valves and then ball valves. There are thinner variant of sanitary ball valves, like our sanitary two piece body ball valves, but they are generally not as robust as the bulkier three piece body ball valve.
Ball valves and butterfly valves can be installed almost all orientations, but sanitary check valves need to be installed in the correct direction to work properly. Furthermore, some sanitary check valves can only be installed vertically.
Hygienic Valve Maintenance Needs
Ease of Cleaning: All three types of sanitary valves can be cleaned in place. For manual cleaning, Ball valves are easier to clean due to its smooth surface, followed by butterfly valves. Check valves, on the other hand, can be more challenging to clean thoroughly.
Replacement Parts: A ball valve’s Teflon seat is the most durable, but will eventually need to be replaced. The Butterfly valve’s rubber seat and sometimes its disc are replaceable parts. A check valves repair kit contains its spring, disc, O ring and gaskets.
Sanitary Valve Cost
Initial Cost: Sanitary Butterfly valves are the cheapest, followed by sanitary check valves, and then sanitary ball valves. There are certain other types of ball valves that are simpler and cheaper than the three piece body design, but they will not be as durable.
Long-Term Costs: While ball valves are the most expensive to acquire, it might be worth it due to lower longer term costs like maintenance and potential downtimes.
NKE Flow Components is an importer and supplier of hygienic valves, check out our sanitary valve page to find out more.
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