Which valve incorporates a flat baffle that turns 90 degrees and is operated by a quarter-turn handle?

The butterfly valve is designed with a flat circular disc that acts as a baffle. This disc rotates 90 degrees around an axis, allowing it to open or close the flow of fluid with a simple quarter-turn of the handle. When the handle is turned, the disc moves perpendicular to the flow path, effectively controlling the flow with minimal resistance and pressure loss. This feature makes butterfly valves particularly useful in applications where space is limited and a quick, efficient means of flow control is required.

In contrast, other types of valves, such as the gate valve, ball valve, and pressure relief valve, operate on different principles and do not utilize the same flat baffle design. For instance, a gate valve uses a sliding gate mechanism, while a ball valve incorporates a spherical ball to block or allow flow, and a pressure relief valve is designed to open at predetermined pressures to prevent system overpressure. These differences are key to understanding how various valve types operate and their specific applications in fluid systems.