Three-way type ball valves can cut off, change and distribute the flow path of the medium. The sealing surface of ball valves is often found in a closed position. So ball valves are not to corrosion by the medium. The ball valve structure is compact or straightforward to operate.
Role of ball valve includes following factors:
- Efficiency
- Versatility
- Durability
- Easy maintenance and operation
Two valve seats join the floating ball body. Under the pressure of the medium, the ball body can create a displacement. The pressure sticks close to the sealing surface of the valve seat and allows the sealing at the outlet. The ball valve uses a moving ball shot through to control flow. When the gap is present, it will enable fluids to pass through. Or, you can stop the flow by turning the valve to 90 degrees.
What Are Ball Valves?
The word ball valve help that internal process used to change the flow through the device. A ball valve has a ball-like disc that works as a dam when the valve is closed. A ball valve is a quarter-turn-shaped valve that uses a moving ball to control flow. Ball valves are one of the most common valves used in different industries.
Ball valves are known for their long service life, durability, and reliable sealing. They are adept at handling polluted media compared to other valve types.
Materials For The Construction Of Ball Valves
These are generally constructed from the following materials. Let’s explore each material and its advantages.
Stainless Steel
The first construction material is stainless steel in this section. Stainless steel is a kind of steel with a minute amount of nickel and higher content of chromium. The chromium range of stainless steel makes it the best for corrosion resistance. Stainless steel is used for its excellent durability, strength, and toughness.
Stainless steel ball valves are usually constructed in 316 Stainless Steel grades. In contrast, 316 Stainless Steel has 10% nickel, 18% chromium, and small molybdenum parts. The mixture of nickel and molybdenum makes the 316 Stainless Steel border chlorides.
To handle chlorinated water, they are used in swimming pools. In harsh environments, they offer the best resistance to corrosive chemicals.
Brass
The other material for ball valve construction is brass. Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper, checked by its dull yellowish-to-reddish color. So brass is the most common material for the construction of ball valves. Brass can withstand high temperatures and pressures due to being a rigid, strong metal. If you want to select for corrosion resistance, brass has good anti-corrosion. It is inactive to most acids and bases and not a good high chlorine content solution.
Brass ball valves are easy to fabricate because of their easy to cast and weld. They are lighter, cheaper, and easy to assemble in the piping system. B brass ball valves are typically used in food, oil, and gas processing fluids.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
PVC is a rigid, durable plastic material often used in ball valve construction. PVC is cheaper compared to brass and stainless-steel valves. Applying PVC ball valves includes irrigation, plumbing, and water distribution systems.
CPVC is a kind of PVC that has been chlorinated by a free radical mechanism started by UV light. The chlorination of PVC influences higher temperature resistance. CPVC ball valves can manage temperatures of up to 200 degrees.
Polypropylene Ball Valve (GFPP)
In GFPPs, glass fibers are supported by polypropylene to increase their stability. In PP, reinforcing glass fibers helps to work in harsher applications.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Ball Valve?
Ball valves come in a wide variety of dimensions and sizes. But today, ball valves are available in lengths of 0.5 cm to as large as 121 cm.
Here in this section, you will get the main advantages that make ball valves the best choice:
Efficiency
Ball valves are the best priority for systems that need a controlled flow. They are open and close at lightning speed and leakproof. Most ball valve efficiency makes a top choice for emergency operations.
Versatility
The valve has a versatile structure that offers flexibility for many applications. Most ball valves are simple domestic usage, too complicated industrial mechanisms.
Durability
One of the unique advantages of ball valves is their durability. They are suitable for their ability to exist without a glitch. Most plastic ball valves lower their metal parts because of no corrosion issue.
Easy maintenance and operation
Ball valves are the best maintenance because maintenance is not complex. If you maintain your valve on time, it will function for years. Repairs and replacements are not expensive and are accessible to available. The design of ball valves allows easy installation and repair work. The unique design makes the operation easy without any side loads.
Safety
High-quality ball valves are reliable for working with high-temperature and high-pressure flows. Under extreme industrial conditions, they provide safe service.
Here are some other advantages of ball valves in various fields of applications:
- Easy to install and lighter in weight.
- They do not demand any lubrication.
- With low torque, they offer a bubble-tight seal.
- They are suitable for throttling applications.
- They can control them with less force than what other valve types need.
- Unlike gate and globe valves, they have multi-design flexibility.
- In case of repairs, seats inside the valve are readily available.
- Allows the flow to be changed from many sources.
Disadvantages
There are some disadvantages that the user must notify the function of the ball valve:
Poor throttling characteristics
Due to high-velocity flows, the half seat may be exposed to erosion in a throttling condition. So, the ball valves are thus not suggested for sustained throttling applications.
Wear and tear
They are unsuitable for slurry type variety due to cavities around the seat and the ball. When used to regulate fluids of slurries, ball valves can stick in position. Due to sticking suspended particles being clogged. As a result, wear appears on the valve or it becomes stuck.
Can The Ball Valve Play A Role In The Pipeline?
Ball valves use a ball to control the flow of a pipeline’s contents. It regulates the flow through the center of the ball as a bore. The opening and closing time of the ball valve is fast. The bore is lined up with the pipeline when the valve is open. The opening allows the gas, oil, or other liquid to move through. The bore can move perpendicular to the closed position. In sealed condition, the beginning of the pipeline stops the substance flow. The ball valve is an essential gas pipeline element to supply or control the flow rate.
How To Choose A Ball Valve According To Your Needs?
When you choose Ball Valve for your system, keep some essential points in mind. Let’s explore how you find the best valve for your application.
Valve Sizing
The key point behind valve sizing is picking the flow through the diameter of the valve. The ball valve design may contain two different-sized openings for pressure drops. So, the valve sizing is almost done for throttling valves.
Media
Ball valves are suitable for liquid and gas media. You can use this type of valve to examine chemicals such as oxygen, dry chlorine, or hydrochloric acid. Slurry flow is not highly suggested because they tend to solidify in the cavities of the ball and seats. It improves the working torque and may break the valve.
Valve Function
Most valves are chosen due to their best regulating applications. The ball valves are also best for fast working with regulating applications. They are regarded as quick-working because they only need a 90-degree turn of the control to work the valve. The quarter arc lower valve working time and lower the chance of leakage.
Method of Control
The closure part of a ball valve has a ball-shaped disc. A quarter turn of the actuator opens the valve turn lines the hole in the ball parallel to the flow. So the media can pass through the valve. When the valve is closed, the ball is rotated, so the hole blocks the press.
If a high level of accuracy is not required, ball valves can be used for throttling service. The high pressure and velocity flow throttling cause the partially exposed seat to erode. The wear will ultimately show valve leakage. You can repair the leakage if the manual ball valve can move faster due to changing position signal.
Performance Specifications
It is essential to check the correct performance needs for the valve in the system that will use.
Flow
To start, stop, throttle, or regulate, operate the ball valve flow or motion of media through a system. The valve’s shape decides how many flow paths the valve will have.
Summary
Ball valves make it easy to handle the flow of liquids through piping systems. They are convenient and cost-efficient for most industrial users and applications. The features of ball valves make them an excellent choice for a variety of industries. Ball valves are also helpful in allowing the flow of fluids by rotating the ball.
The ball is seated between two seats and has a stem that uses the operating mechanism. The material for constructing ball valves must be tough, stiff, and rigid. The material depends on your media flow because many materials are used. There are many advantages of ball valves in multiple fields of application. Ball valves are comfortable to operate and activate and give a low risk of leakage. But the application of ball valves is limited due to the operating temperature of the seats. Throttling is not suggested for ball valves in many conditions.
