AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF BUTTERFLY VALVE PERFORMANCE DOWNSTREAM OF AN ELBOW

The results of an experimental investigation concerning the operating characteristics of a butterfly valve downstream of a mitered elbow are reported. Primary emphasis is given the influences of valve disk angle, valve/elbow spacing, and valve/elbow orientation on the dimensionless pressure drop, mass flow coefficient, and aerodynamic torque coefficient characteristics of the valve. The results show that when the valve is located two pipe diameters downstream of the elbow, the performance characteristics are substantially affected by the relative valve/elbow orientation. However, at a spacing of eight diameters the effect of the elbow on the valve operating characteristics is small.