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Actuator Sizing Information

Required Operating Torques:

There are three torques to be considered when selecting the proper actuator for a butterfly valve.

(1) Seating Torque - The torque required to displace a resilient seat and effect shutoff.

(2) Bearing Torque - The torque required to overcome friction forces on the valve shaft bearing surfaces

(3) Dynamic Torque - Torque due to fluid forces which tend to close the valve.

The torques for resilient seated valves tabulated in this section are the sum of (1) and (2) above for various shutoff pressures. These tabulated values include a safety factor large enough to insure proper valve operation in most general butterfly valve applications. Where unusual service conditions exist (such as likelihood of seat swelling, or low and high temperature seat hardening), an additional safety factor may be applicable.

Dynamic Torque

Dynamic torque is torque on the valve shaft due to the fluid forces on the valve disc. This torque is a function of valve diameter, pressure drop, and a torque coefficient (C_t) which varies with angle opening. Torque is calculated by the equation:

Where

T	=	Dynamic torque (in-lb)
D	=	Valve Dia. (in)
	=	Dynamic torque coefficient (see table below)

C_t vs. Angle Open
Angle Open	0	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90
C_t	0	.007	.014	.022	.033	.050	.087	.143	.215	0

Dynamic torque is not usually of major concern in resilient seated butterfly valves unless the line velocity exceeds 20 fps. If line velocity exceeds this, a check should be made to insure that actuator output exceeds the calculated dynamic torque. Dynamic torque should be checked at 80° open for on-off applications.

Dynamic torque is of prime consideration in situations where line velocity is not recovered downstream of the valve. This situation exists on installations where there is an unlimited source and less than 6 diameters of pipe downstream of the valve. If a valve discharges to the atmosphere, the pressure drop across the valve will be equal to the height of water above the valve for all angles of valve opening. This pressure drop must not exceed the pressure drop tabulated in Maximum vs. Angle Opening Tables for any angle. If it does, provisions must be made for velocity recovery by adding downstream piping.

Actuator Sizing Torque for Weco Butterfly Valves
Valve Size	Seating Torques in In-Lbs., @ Various Line Pressures
Valve Size	0 PSI	50 PSI	75 PSI	100 PSI	125 PSI	150 PSI	175 PSI
2	90	90	92	94	96	98	100
2 ¹/₂	130	130	134	138	142	146	150
3	200	200	206	212	218	224	230
4	350	350	366	382	398	414	430
5	535	535	566	597	628	659	690
6	770	770	823	876	929	982	1,035
8	1,350	1,350	1,475	1,600	1,725	1,850	1,975
10	2,100	2,100	2,340	2,580	2,820	3,060	3,300
12	3,000	3,000	3,400	3,800	4,200	4,600	5,000
14	3,680	4,240	4,790	5,350	5,900	6,480
16	4,880	5,730	6,580	7,430	8,280	9,140
18	6,230	7,460	8,690	9,920	11,150	12,390
20	7,770	9,380	11,000	12,610	14,230	15,840
24	11,100	14,010	16,920	19,830	22,740	25,650

NOTE: For valves using Teflon seats, use torque value at highest standard valve rating even for lower pressure applications. Above figures are for valves used in wet service, for dry service valves contact Thraco.

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