Ball valves consist mostly of a body, a sphere-shaped plug, and seats. There are three common designs for ball valves, and they are called full port, reduced port, as well as venturi port. The internal diameter of the full-port valve is the same as the pipe’s internal diameter. The port is often smaller than the line size in venturi and reduced-port designs. O-ring seals as well as Bolted packing glands provide stem sealing. Valves with a lubricant-seal mechanism, analogous to plug valves, are also commercially available.
The number of ports and the number of seats determines whether a ball valve is one-way, two-way, or three-way. Ball valves can have two, three, four, or five ports, hence the names 2-way, 3-way, 4-way, and 5-port valves. If there is only one seat in a two-way ball valve, then the flow will only go in one direction. When flow is restricted to a single inlet, even a multi-port ball valve such as a 3-, 4-, or 5-way version can be unidirectional. A bidirectional valve is a 2-way ball valve with two seats, one on the upstream side of the ball and another on the downstream side of the ball. By allowing for flows in more than one direction, multiple-port ball valves manufactured by the leading PTFE Lined Ball Valves manufacturer in Gujarat can perform the function of several valves.
Ball valves can have a top entry, a side entry, a split body, or a three-piece body depending on the manufacturing process used. The ends of the valves can be welded, socket welded, flanged, threaded, soldered, or brazed.
High-pressure and low-pressure ball valves are both available. Thanks to technological advancements, ball valves can now be utilised in high-pressure and high-temperature systems.
Types of Ball Valves:
1. Split-Body Ball Valve:
The stem, seat rings, ball, as well as other internals of the split body design are contained under the cover. Flanges connect the two halves of the body together. One portion of the body is noticeably smaller than the other. It consists of a larger body component into which the ball is placed and a smaller body part that is assembled through a bolted connection. The stowaway compartment is an ingeniously crafted extension of the main structure. Split-body ball valves with a smaller size have a threaded connection between the two halves of the body. Leakage can also occur at the threaded or flanged connection between the two halves of the body. Valves of all sizes typically feature flanged end connections, but they are typically expected of larger models. Noble Glass Works is an excellent as well as the most distinguished PTFE Lined Ball Valves manufacturer in Vadodara.
2. Top-Entry Ball Valve:
Top-entry ball valves have a removable bonnet cover that provides access to the valve’s internals for repair, disassembly, assembly, as well as maintenance. The pipeline can remain in place while the valve is removed.
3. End-Entry Ball Valve:
Ball valves that are installed at the end of a pipe are one solid piece. The insert holds the ball in place after it has been introduced from one end. Connections to these valves can be made through a flange or a screwed end. Small, low-cost valves of this kind are quite widespread.
4. Three-Piece — Body Ball Valve:
Steam enters through a hole in the top and exits through the valve’s main body, which also contains all of the valve’s internals. The main body and two end caps are fastened together with bolts or studs and nuts. The butt-welding, socket-welding, threaded, and flanged end connectors are integral to the end caps.
5. Double Trunnion Ball Valves:
The ball in this type of ball valve manufactured by the most reliable as well as noted PTFE Lined Ball Valves manufacturer in Vadodara has two trunnions, or short shaft extensions, one at the top and one at the bottom. When the shaft inserted in the top trunnion is moved, the valve opens or closes. These trunnions are mounted on bearings so that they can rotate freely. Unlike in other designs, where the ball is supported by the two-seat rings and allowed to drift in the direction of the slot on top of the ball, this one keeps the ball firmly in place. To open or close the valve, a shaft is inserted into the top slot and rotated.
Trunnion-mounted ball valves are utilised for big split-body valves, while the more common floating-ball design is employed for smaller ball valves. Compared to a floating-ball design, the torque needed to operate a trunnion-mounted ball valve is much lower.
6. Lubricated or Non-lubricated Ball Valves:
Stem sealing, like that of other valves, is often achieved by the use of O-ring seals as well as bolted packing glands. Lubricant-seal systems, like those used in plug valves, are available in some valve designs. Lubricated ball valves refer to those equipped with lubrication seal systems, while non-lubricated valves fall into the latter category.