Ball Valve

Table of Contents





Ball Valve [1]

A sketch of a ball valve.



What are Ball Valves?

A ball valve is a type of isolation valve. Ball valves control the flow of liquids or gases [2]. These valves use a bored rotary ball to control flow. There are 5 main components in a ball valve. These components are the valve stem (1), O-Rings (2), valve housing (3), ball (4), and valve seat (5). Ball valves can be controlled manually or automatically (pneumatically or electronically). 






Ball Valve Components [2]

A cross-sectional schematic of a ball valve.



Advantages

  • Offer a tight seal [3]
  • More affordable than many other types of valves
  • Open and close quickly [4]
  • Are controlled with relatively low force
  • Can be used under relatively high temperatures and pressures
  • Are available in a variety of shapes and sizes

Disadvantages

  • Not recommended for throttling [3]
  • Not suggested for all types of fluids, especially those with many suspended particles
  • Can become stuck due to particle build up over time in slurry systems



Applications

Ball valves can be used in various systems with the main ones being air, gaseous, and liquid applications which require a tight seal [5]. This can include applications dealing with drinking water, steam services, and cooling and feed water systems.


Materials 

Ball valves can be made from a multitude of different materials. Each of theses different materials changes the specifications of the valve. When the material is altered, a change can be seen in the temperature class, pressure class, and what material systems the valve can be used for.

Ball Valve Material Specifications [6]

A chart depicting the specification for various ball valve materials.


Suppliers

Ball valves can be purchased from a multitude of suppliers. Links to some common supplier websites are listed below. 


Contributors:

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Faculty Advisor: Rachel Malevich (alumni)