Ball Valves
Ball Valve
Ball valve
A ball valve is a shut-off valve that allows, obstructs, and controls the flow of liquids, gases, and vapors in a piping system by rotating the ball having a bore inside the valve. The ball is mounted against two seats and has a shaft 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. The fluid flows through from the valve, and the fluid flow rate depends on the area of the bore exposed to the floor. Ball valves are a type of quarter-turn valve along with plug valves and butterfly valves. They can be operated manually or by using an actuator. The simplest operation of a ball valve is through the use of a wrench or a lever manually turned by an operator. Torque is applied to rotate the lever arm by 90° by either clockwise or counterclockwise to open or close the valve. If the lever arm parallel to the pipe, it indicates that the valve is open. If the lever arm is perpendicular to the pipe, it indicates that the valve is closed.
One-Piece Ball Valve
A one-piece ball valve has a single-piece cast body that houses the internal components of the ball valve. This eliminates the risk of leakage of the fluid from the valve. One-piece ball valves are the cheapest ball valves and always have a reduced bore.
Two-Piece Ball Valve
A two-piece ball valve consists of housing divided into two pieces that are fitted together. The main piece contains the ball and a connection to one end, and the other piece holds the internal components together and has a connection to the other end. Two-piece housing is the most common type among ball valves. The two parts can be dismantled for cleaning, maintenance, and inspection but it requires removal of the valve from the pipe.
Three-Piece Ball Valve
A three-piece ball valve consists of the housing for the internal components of the valve which are fitted and held together by bolt connections to its two ends. The ends are threaded or welded to the main pipe. Three-piece ball valves are used for applications that rely heavily on valves, that their maintenance activities must frequently be done. They can be cleaned and serviced easily and their seats and seals can be routinely replaced by just taking the valve body out without disturbing the two ends. Three-piece ball valves are commonly used in the food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries where sanitation is crucial to safety and product quality.
