NOUFERROUS METALLURGICAL EQUIPMENT

This study investigates the influence of butterfly valve installation positions on flow characteristics in an inverted U-shaped pipeline system through numerical simulations based on SolidWorks Flow Simulation. By constructing three butterfly valve configurations (downstream of the elbow, upstream of the elbow, and in a straight pipe) combined with flow field visualization and quantitative analysis of flow resistance coefficients, the hydraulic performance of different layouts was systematically compared. The results reveal a significant negative correlation between the valve opening angle and the flow resistance coefficient, with nonlinear resistance modulation by angle variation. The resistance adjustment gradient is particularly pronounced in the low-opening range (0°~30°). When the butterfly valve is installed upstream of the elbow, the system exhibits superior flow stability across the full operating range, with significantly reduced flow resistance coefficients and pressure losses. Additionally, this configuration effectively suppresses valve vibration and flow separation phenomena. Based on the simulation results, it is recommended to prioritize the upstream elbow installation of butterfly valves in engineering practice, especially for pipeline systems requiring frequent adjustments. Further performance improvements can be achieved by optimizing elbow spacing or introducing flow guides.