What type of valve is primarily used for on-off control in high-flow applications?

In high-flow applications, the type of valve primarily used for on-off control is the butterfly valve. Butterfly valves feature a disc that rotates around a central axis, allowing for quick opening and closing. This design minimizes flow resistance when the valve is fully open, making it highly efficient for regulating large volumes of fluid.

The butterfly valve is especially advantageous in applications requiring rapid operation and where space constraints are a concern, as they are generally more compact than other types of valves. When the disc is turned parallel to the flow, the valve is fully open, and when turned perpendicular, it is fully closed. This efficient design makes the butterfly valve suitable for both low and high flow rates, but it is particularly favored in high-flow applications where quick response is necessary.

In contrast, other types of valves like gate valves are better suited for on-off control in situations where minimal flow resistance or pressure drop is critical, but they do not perform as quickly as butterfly valves. Similarly, ball valves offer excellent sealing and quick on-off control but are typically more costly and may not be the most space-efficient choice for high flow applications compared to butterfly valves. Globe valves, on the other hand, are primarily used for throttling flow rather than for quick on-off functionality.