A Comprehensive Guide To Know About Ball Valves

Posted by Dutco Tennant LLC on December 9th, 2022

Choosing the right type of valve allows users to maintain the media flow within the pipeline. There are several different types of valves used for varied applications. Today, we will be focusing on a particular quarter-turn valve - ball valve.
Whether you want ball valves for commercial use or industrial, this valving solution fits in many different applications. They are especially really popular in the oil and gas, chemical and petrochemical industry.

They are also known for controlling and shutting flow within the pipeline system. In fact, in the oil and gas industry, the use of ball valves help in also protecting the equipment with its ability to control the flow of oil and gas.
If you want to know all things essential about ball valves then this comprehensive guide is just for you. Continue to read till the end to find out all about ball valves.

What is a Ball Valve?

A ball valve is a valve type that utilises a spherical perforation obstruction termed as a “rotary ball” that allows for starting or shutting the flow. A ball valve opens or closes upon 90 degrees rotation around its axis.
It is one of the extensively used valve types and is also known to be plumbing ball valves, sewage ball valves and more. Ball valves are capable of handling both media - gas or liquid services. Ever since its development around 1936, ball valves are noted among the cost-effective valve solutions that are available in an extensive range of sizes.

Different Applications of Ball Valves

Ball valves being cost-effective are used in many different applications. Some of them are -

Refineries - Ball valves are used as isolation and shut-off valves for thermal cracking units, gas distribution measuring, gas/oil separation lines, refining units, oil loading control stations, emergency shut down loops and many more.

Power Industry - Ball valves are also used for boiler feedwater control, for shut-off and control of stem, as burner trip valves, etc.
HVAC ball valves, transmission and distribution lines and many other applications use ball valves.

Perks of Using Ball Valves

Ball valves offer following advantages that makes them an excellent choice for controlling operations in a variety of applications. These are -
• Offers leak-proof service
• Quick open and close action
• Multi design flexibility
• Great selection flexibility due to availability of varied shapes & sizes
• Delivers safe service in high temperature and pressure conditions
• Can be controlled with less force involved in comparison to other valves

Different Parts of a Ball Valve

Ball valves have quite a few key parts which include the housing, ball, seats and lever for rotation of the ball. The following parts are -

Valve Body - Whether you are going for a ductile iron ball valve or any other material, the body of the valve constitutes to be an integral part of the valve. It is the body of the valve that contains all the other key components for open or closing control.

Rotary Ball - This is the component for which this valve gets its name. A ball with a centre hole through which the media flow is considered to be the primary characteristics of a ball valve that distinguishes it from other valve types. It is through the hole of the ball via one axis joining the inlet to the outlet. The stem of the valve helps in regulating the ball’s direction. The ball can either be trunnion mounted or free-floating.

Seats - These are the discs of a ball valve that lies in between the valve body and the ball. This part helps in offering needed sealing between the two and also backs the ball.

Stem - The stem is the part that enables the ball to attach to the external control mechanism.

Power Source - An actuated or manual power source is considered to be the other part of the valve that provides energy to the ball valve’s stem for its rotation. Lever and handle is used for manual power sources. Whereas automatic actuators use electric, pneumatic or hydraulic power sources for its operations.

Packing - This is the sealing found around the stem for preventing any escape of media.

Bonnet - Bonnet is the part of the valve that holds the stem and packing of the ball valve.

How does a Ball Valve work?

It does not matter which type of ball valve you are using -

a cast iron ball valve or brass, the work mechanism of all ball valves are the same. Ball valves are noted to be the rotary motion valves.

When the stem passes the motion to the attached ball, it results in rotation of the ball. This ball is supported and rested by the seats of the ball valve.

This rotation of the ball over seats enables the bore to open or shut allowing the media to flow or stop.
Ball valves with manual and standard service, the port opening of the valve is in line with the inlet and outlet ports resulting in uninterrupted flow through the valve.

There is a slight pressure drop if a full port ball is used. This pressure drop tends to grow when there is use of reduced-port ball.
When the hand operated lever is positioned parallel to the pipeline, the passage of the flow is in-line with the flow passage of the body.

This tends to cause the ball's opening to move perpendicularly to the flow stream while the edges of the port rotates through the seat.When a complete quarter-turn is reached, the port fully is perpendicular to the flow stream resulting in blocking the flow.

There are different types of ball valves available. If you are interested to know about them then be sure to get in touch with an expert ball valve supplier in UAE now.