Ball Valves

By Author: khdvalveautomation
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A Ball Valve is a form of quarter-turn valve which uses a hollow, perforated, and pivoting Ball to control flow through it. It is open when the ball's hole is in line with the flow and closed when it is pivoted 90-degrees by the valve handle. The handle lies flat in alignment with the flow when open, and is perpendicular to it when closed, making for easy visual confirmation of the valve's status.
Two-Piece Design Ball Valves:
A Ball Valve is a form of quarter-turn valve which uses a hollow, perforated, and pivoting Ball to control flow through it. It is open when the ball's hole is in line with the flow and closed when it is pivoted 90-degrees by the valve handle. The handle lies flat in alignment with the flow when open, and is perpendicular to it when closed, making for easy visual confirmation of the valve's status.
Three-Piece Design Ball Valves:
A Ball Valve is a form of quarter-turn valve which uses a hollow, perforated, and pivoting Ball to control flow through it. It is open when the ball's hole is in line with the flow and closed when it is pivoted 90-degrees by the valve handle. The handle ...
... lies flat in alignment with the flow when open, and is perpendicular to it when closed, making for easy visual confirmation of the valve's status.
Characteristics of Ball Valves:
Ball Valves are hard-wearing, performing well after many cycles, and reliable, closing securely even after long periods of disuse. These qualities make them an excellent choice for shutoff and control applications, where they are often preferred to gates and Globe Valves, but they lack their fine control in throttling applications.
Two-Piece Design Ball Valves are hard-wearing, performing well after many cycles, and reliable, closing securely even after long periods of disuse. These qualities make them an excellent choice for shutoff and control applications, where they are often preferred to gates and Globe Valves, but they lack their fine control in throttling applications.

Three Piece Design Ball Valves are hard-wearing, performing well after many cycles, and reliable, closing securely even after long periods of disuse. These qualities make them an excellent choice for shutoff and control applications, where they are often preferred to gates and Globe Valves, but they lack their fine control in throttling applications.

Uses of Ball Valves:
Ball valve's ease of operation, repair, and adaptability lend it to extensive industrial use, withstanding pressures up to 1000 bar and temperatures up to 752 °F (400 °C), depending on the design and raw materials used. Sizes typically range from 0.2 to 48 inches (0.5 cm to 121 cm). Valve bodies are made of metal, plastic, or metal with a ceramic; floating balls are often chrome plated for durability. One disadvantage of a Ball valve is that they trap water in the centre cavity while in the closed position.

In cold climates, the sides can crack due to the expansion of ice forming. Some means of insulation or heat tape in this situation will usually prevent damage. Another option for this situation is the "freeze tolerant Ball valve". This style of Ball valve incorporates a freeze plug in the side so in the event of a freeze-up, the freeze plug ruptures (acts as a sacrificial disk), thus making for an easy repair. Now instead of replacing the whole valve, just screw in a new freeze plug.
Materials use in Ball Valves Manufacturing
• Bronze (CAC401, CAC406)
• Brass (C3771)
• Gray cast iron (FC200, FC300)
• Ductile iron castings (FCD-S)
• Carbon steel castings for high temperature/pressure service (SCPH 2)
• Stainless steel castings (SCS13A, SCS14A)
Reference by

Wikipedia- Ball valve

Two-Piece Design Ball Valves

Three Piece Design Ball Valves