4 Common Types Of Ball Valves And How They Work

A ball valve is a shut-off valve that allows or obstructs the flow of liquids and gases in a piping system by rotating the ball having a bore inside the valve for 90°. They are widely used in piping systems, can be operated manually or by using an actuator. The ball is mounted against two seats and has a stem that connects it to the operating and control mechanism that rotates the ball. When the cross-section of the bore is perpendicular to the area of the flow, the fluid is not permitted to pass through the valve. Otherwise, the fluid flows out from the valve.

Today, let's explore the 4 most common types of ball valves and how they work!

Standard (Threaded)

Standard ball valves consist of the housing, seats, ball and lever for ball rotation. They include valves with two, three and four ports which can be female or male threaded or a combination of those. Threaded ball valves contain internal and external threads to facilitate inlet and outlet connections.

Hydraulic

Hydraulic ball valves are a special type of industrial valve used to direct and control fluid in hydraulic systems. Typically constructed from steel, stainless steel or brass the industrial valves are often required to work at high pressures and temperatures. specially designed for hydraulic and heating systems due to their high operating pressure rating and hydraulic and heating oil resistance. The maximum operating pressure of hydraulic ball valves goes above 500 bar while the maximum temperature goes up to 80°C.

Flanged

Flanged ball valves are 1-piece or 2-piece ball valves that provides effective control of oil and gas operations. Its defining trait is the flanged ends that bolt to oil and gas pipelines. You can easily install or remove this valve from a pipeline or piping system.

Vented

A vented ball valve has a small hole drilled into it's upstream side, which is different from a standard ball valve. Venting the pressure through the "vent" on the ball eliminates the unwanted pressure inside of the valve. Generally speaking, the purpose of a specifically vented ball in a ball valve remains the creation of a flow path that will allow the trapped service medium a means of egress from the isolated cavity created inside the valve when the ball rotates into the closed position.

As mentioned, this covers the 4 common ball valves in the market. If you're looking for experienced professionals in the design and manufacturing industry, you may contact Fujikin Singapore at enquiry@fujikin.com.sg or at +65 6848 5760.