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-------- Ball Valve --------

In recent times ball valves became most known by their unexceptional multiple solutions to many diverse applications. Ball valves are simply manageable in both the maintenance and its fitting. It is preferable equipment, by a large group of engineers. A ball valve is standardized as a quarter-turn isolation valve or shut-off that maintain the flow of liquid or gas by way of the spherical ball with a center bored hole and keep into the valve body by two identical seat seals.

A fitted valve is turned perpendicular and moves 90°, which is how the ball valve closes or opens, the flow direction is in line with the hole and shuts when it is moved 90° either an actuator or by the manual handle. The lever handle should align with the pipe or flow when the valve is open and it is shut off when it is perpendicular to the pipe.

--> How does a ball valve work?

A hollow ball allows flow through it in an open position utilized by ball valves and when it is closed it isolates the flow. The spindle that fits into a slot milled into the hollow ball which drives the ball valve, which ...
... in turn is controlled by a lever to open and close the ball. The valve body neck encased by the ball valve spindle and neck seals sealed by a range, to prevent leakage, moreover, two ball/body seats that ensure positive sealing sandwiched the ball.

--> Operation

Between the seats the ball valve opens and closes, From the surface of the ball, seats offer a wiping motion and clear suspended particles. There must be careful with abrasive solids because it will damage the seats and the surface of the ball which will eventually reason for the leakage. The stringy, fibrous, and solid material may prevent the ball from shutting. The most ball valve design is two way, which gives way to flow to travel from the inlet to the outlet. Three and four-way ball valves in which flow is able to travel in multiple directions.

--> Seats

There are many different kinds of seat material available to suit the requirements of system pressures, chemical resistance, temperature, etc. The cavity filled ball valve is one of the most interesting.
The ball and gap between them have been encapsulated by the special seat design between them. By this trapping product and build-up eliminates the possibility over time.
In food, beverage, brewing, and other sanitary systems, this valve is commonly used. To trapped fluid debris allowed by standard seated ball valves, which is the reason behind bug traps in the inner-body cavity.

--> Differences in bores

By reference to pipeline ID, internal bore has an approximately equal diameter (ID) in full-port ball valves, which decreases the friction and pressure loss across the valve and eliminates flow restrictions. when possibility pigging essential this type of bore is most suitable.

There are one or two nominal sizes smaller bores in reduced-port ball valves, which flow path is restricted that is usually used where energy reductions are not an issue i.e. vent valves or drain.

Available in Reduced ports and full, In most industries from water treatment to oil and gas industries including most severe service applications, ball valves are being used widely.

--> Applications

There are so many industrial applications of ball valves. For reliable leak-proof protection, ball valves are well known in industries. A low-pressure drop ball valve can be opened and closed quickly. Ball valves able to be manually operated or actuated by pneumatic or electric quarter-turn actuators. In manufacturing, A variety of assembled materials, trim options, and designs make the ball valve hugely versatile.

--> Actuated Ball Valves

Automatic control is an alternative to manual handling operation. With an electrical or pneumatic actuator, ball valves can be fitted easily. The actuator fits directly in modern valves, which directly connect via the valve stem. You can control the ball valve remotely or through a controller by using an actuator, by which an automatic ball valve shut off or isolation valve or a proportional control valve. Either with a failsafe spring-actuated unit is offered by pneumatic actuation.

--> Advantages and Disadvantages

->Advantages

-To operate and maintain ball valves are simple
-Access quickly in opening and closing scenario
-Operated manually or pneumatically by the actuator
-When it is fully open it causes little turbulence
-It can handle high flow capacities relative to low-pressure drop which it owns

-> Disadvantages
-The ball valve shouldn’t be used for throttling because it should only be fully open or fully closed.
-Not applicable for slurry or solid applications
-The ball valve can cause a water hammer or surges in pressure if it is opened quickly in some situations.
-For expanding gases vent holes are necessary