Nov. 28, 2024
A ball valve is a type of valve that employs a hollow, pivoting ball to regulate the flow of a medium through it. When the hole of the ball is aligned with the flow, the valve is open; conversely, it closes when the ball is pivoted by the valve handle ninety degrees.
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The primary purpose of a ball valve is to isolate specific sections of a plumbing system by starting, stopping, or modifying the flow of a medium (such as water, air, or gas) between distinct chambers, ducts, and pipes. This is accomplished by either allowing the medium to flow freely through the ball valve, partially letting it through a constricted opening, or entirely obstructing the flow. Various types of ball valves can also divert the flow in different directions, depending on the valve design and handle orientation.
Ball valves are celebrated for their operational simplicity, rapid repair capability, and exceptional versatility. They are widely utilized in industrial applications, capable of withstanding pressures up to 1,000 bar (100 MPa, or 15,000 psi) and temperatures up to 400°C (752°F), based on the materials, mediums, and designs used.
These components are usually selected for applications requiring on or off positions. The design of ball valves guarantees a reliable shut-off function, assuming all parts are functioning properly. However, they may be less effective at accurately regulating flow rates at intermediate positions between fully open and fully closed.
Most commonly, ball valves are found in plumbing systems and related applications, such as industrial cooling. Their role is primarily to manage the flow rate of liquids or gases through specific ports or openings, consequently influencing the pressure balance in other critical sections of the system.
Ball valves are also common in various types of taps, faucets, and spigots, and are extensively used on gas lines, domestic appliances, and in numerous industrial applications. Typically, industrial-grade ball valves are sturdier and more robust than their domestic counterparts, designed for high pressures and temperatures across a variety of industries including manufacturing, assembly, production, plastics, metals, chemicals, healthcare, industrial power, food and beverages, printing and textiles, electronics, automotive, and logistics.
Several distinct types of ball valves exist, each tailored for specific applications. The available types include manual ball valves, process ball valves, and pneumatic ball valves.
When purchasing a valve, it is essential to identify the valve type, manufacturer, inlet/outlet size, operational and maximum pressures, solution temperature, and the substance flowing through the valve. Understanding the medium flowing through the valve is critical to ensure proper chemical compatibility. Additionally, knowing the pH level of the medium can be a crucial factor in selecting suitable components and materials.
Before deciding on a valve, you must determine its purpose. Will it regulate a fluid or stop its flow?
It is vital to verify the medium circulating within the system—is it a gas or liquid? Is it corrosive, chemically neutral, a food product, or a medical fluid necessitating special hygiene conditions?
Regarding the valve's operational system, it's important to know whether it is manually operated or automatic. In the former scenario, someone must be present to operate the valve, while in the latter, the valves can be controlled remotely.
Finally, understanding how the valve will integrate into the system and the assembly or installation type—which may require welding, bolting through flanges, or screwing in—is critical.
Once these elements have been established, you can focus on the technical specifications of your installation, particularly the flow and pressure, which will help determine the valve dimensions.
The choice of a valve also depends on the flow rate, pressure, and type of fluid being transported since this will dictate the materials with which the valve is constructed.
In the butterfly valve niche, it's critical to first identify the style of butterfly valve in use. The two most common styles are Wafer or Lug bodies. A wafer-style butterfly valve has through bolt holes that align with the exterior rim of both pipe flanges, while a lug-style butterfly valve features threaded bolt holes on either side of the valve body for end-of-line applications, although lug-style valves are generally less common than their wafer counterparts. Below, an example of a wafer-style valve is shown on the left, and a lug-style valve on the right.
A ball valve is perhaps the most ubiquitous type of valve across all industries. It derives its name from the internal ball that resides within a seat. When the handle or knob is rotated ninety degrees from the inlet/outlet ports, the valve is closed, revealing the ball's convex shape. Conversely, when the handle is rotated parallel to the inlet/outlet ports, the valve is open, allowing continuous flow through it.
On the left, an air-actuated, stainless steel, female pipe thread, ball valve can be seen. On the right is a manual, polypropylene, flanged ball valve.
By design, ball valves labeled as Standard Port possess a fluid path smaller than that of the inlet/outlet port size limits, which can be misleading for those unfamiliar with Standard vs. Full Port concepts. For example, a 2-inch Standard Port valve will exhibit flow characteristics closer to a 1.5-inch fluid path due to the increased friction loss caused by the smaller opening (i.e., pressure drop), resulting in a reduced flow rate. While Standard Port ball valves are more economical, they do limit system flow rates somewhat. If flow rates are not a concern, utilizing Standard Port valve(s) can save initial costs.
Full port valves, on the other hand, allow for maximal flow characteristics within the plumbing system. Assuming all valves in a system are full port, enhanced flow rates can be expected relative to a system with Standard Port valves. Full port valves feature slight design modifications that enhance flow characteristics, changes that are not visible externally.
Determining the appropriate valve for a specific application hinges on understanding the pressure conditions. Always utilize a pressure gauge at various plumbing system points to ascertain the operational pressure—never estimate the operating pressure. Installing a low pressure valve in a high pressure system can lead to severe consequences. Generally, anything below 150 psi qualifies as low pressure, but some valves are rated for pressure below 150 psi.
This reinforces a crucial principle in adequate valve selection: identify the operational and maximum pressure of the plumbing system.
Ball valves exemplify how the same style can cater to multiple applications, appropriate for both high and low pressure. Some product lines are restricted to specific industries due to pressure limitations. Nonetheless, many ball valve varieties transcend industry gaps.
While many products can be cross-utilized across various industries, it remains essential for customers to confirm their operational pressure—ensuring application safety minimizes potential injury and damage to the valve and other plumbing system components.
We offer ball valves that can be operated remotely as well. The most common types are pneumatic (air-operated) and electric motor-operated ball valves. Pneumatic variants are frequently used in chemical facilities, fertilizer plants, or industrial settings. Electric ball valves are predominantly found in agricultural applications for spraying solutions. The terms electric ball valve and pneumatic ball valve refer to the method of actuation.
When passing by agricultural fields, the booms of large self-propelled sprayers are often remotely controlled using electric ball valves, enabling the sprayer operator to control on/off functions based on specific field application requirements.
Electric ball valves are also commonplace in the turf industry, particularly for golf courses or residential sprayers, as their smaller booms differ from larger agricultural models.
Lastly, we substantially engage in the liquid deicing industry; if you have noticed a road maintenance vehicle applying a solution ahead of a winter storm, you have seen this industry in action. These vehicles apply a sodium chloride, magnesium, or calcium chloride solution. Electric driven ball valves are standard in this sector to avoid pneumatic valve airline freezing in harsh winter conditions.
If interested, here is an informative resource outlining the process for creating the salt brine solution. Below, you'll view a pneumatic-operated ball valve on the left and an electric-operated variant on the right.
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