Sanitary Valves: Sanitary Diaphragm Valve vs Sanitary Butterfly Valve

Sanitary Butterfly Valve with Pull Handle

Sanitary Diaphragm Valve

In the Malaysian food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries, sanitary diaphragm valves and sanitary butterfly valves are both commonly used in areas where hygiene is important.

However, there are some important differences between the two valves:

Sanitary Butterfly Valve

Dairy Butterfly Valve

Hygienic butterfly valves are widely used in fluid handling applications where hygiene and flow control are important, though not necessarily at the highest level of sterility. These valves operate using a rotating disc mounted on a shaft, which opens or closes the valve when turned.

Advantages

• Higher pressure capability: Compared to hygienic diaphragm valves, butterfly valves are generally rated for higher pressures, making them more suitable for demanding applications like CIP systems or large-scale utility lines.

• Cost effective: Sanitary butterfly valves offer a more budget friendly option for sanitary systems, especially where ultra-hygienic features are not essential.

• Simple design: The hygienic butterfly valve’s fewer moving parts allow for easy maintenance and durability.

Limitations

• Lower cleanability: Due to crevices around the disc and sealing surfaces, product residue may accumulate, requiring more thorough cleaning.

• Less precise flow control: While effective for on/off functions, they are not ideal for throttling or regulating flow at low rates.

Hygienic Diaphragm Valve

Dairy Diaphragm Valve

Sanitary diaphragm valves are considered the gold standard for ultra-hygienic processing environments such as pharmaceuticals, biotech, and high purity food manufacturing. These valves feature a flexible diaphragm that isolates the flow path from the rest of the valve body, minimizing contamination risks.

Advantages

• Clean in place friendly: The flexible diaphragm can be cleaned thoroughly without dismantling the valve, improving cleaning efficiency and safety.

• Excellent low-flow control: The sanitary diaphragm valve offers fine modulation at low volumes, allowing for accurate dosing or mixing in sensitive applications.

• Crevice free design: With fewer dead spaces, the sanitary diaphragm valve resists product buildup and bacterial growth.

Limitations

• Lower pressure ratings. Typically not designed for high pressure systems.

• Higher cost: Diaphragm valves come at a premium, which may not be justified in environments that do not demanding extreme cleanliness and precision.

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NKE Flow is a supplier of sanitary valves. Click to see more about our diaphragm valve, and butterfly valve.