Inst ToolsInst ToolsInst Tools
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Search
  • Books
  • Software
  • Projects
  • Process
  • Tools
  • Basics
  • Formula
  • Power Plant
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Electrical Basics
  • Animation
  • Standards
  • 4-20 mA Course
  • Siemens PLC Course
Reading: Basics of Ball Valves
Share
Font ResizerAa
Inst ToolsInst Tools
Font ResizerAa
  • Courses
  • Design
  • PLC
  • Interview
  • Control System
Search
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Inst Tools > Blog > Animation > Basics of Ball Valves

Basics of Ball Valves

Last updated: March 21, 2019 11:22 pm
Editorial Staff
Animation Control Valves
No Comments
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

A ball valve is a form of quarter-turn valve which uses a hollow, perforated and pivoting ball (called a “floating 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.

Contents
Basics of Ball ValvesRecommended Uses :Advantages :Disadvantages :Applications :

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.

Ball valves are durable, performing well after many cycles, and reliable, closing securely even after long periods of disuse. These qualities make them an excellent choice for shutoff applications, where they are often preferred to gates and globe valves, but they lack their fine control in throttling applications.

Ball valves are a quick opening valves that give a tight shutoff. When fully open, a ball valve creates little turbulence or resistance to flow.

The valve stem rotates a ball which contains an opening. The ball opening can be positioned in the fully open or fully closed position but must not be used to throttle flow as any abrasive wear to the ball will cause leakage when the valve is closed.

Basics of Ball Valves

Ball Valve Principle Animation

Ball valves are considered high recovery valves, having a low pressure drop and relatively high flow capacity.

The ball valve’s ease of operation, repair, and versatility lend it to extensive industrial use, supporting pressures up to 1000 bar and temperatures up to 752°F (500°C), depending on design and 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.

Best Suited Control: Quick opening, linear

Recommended Uses :

  • Fully open/closed, limited-throttling
  • Higher temperature fluids

Advantages :

  • Low cost
  • High flow capacity
  • High pressure/temperature  capabilities
  • Low leakage and maintenance
  • Tight sealing with low torque
  • Easy quarter turn operation- desirable to most operators
  • Fairly easy to automate.

Disadvantages :

  • Limited throttling characteristics
  • Prone to cavitation
  • Not suitable for slurry applications due to cavities around the ball and seats. Slurries tend to solidify or clog inside the cavities, greatly increasing the operating torque of the valve and in some cases rendering the valve inoperable.

Applications :

  • Ball valves  are  excellent  in  chemical  applications,  including  the  most  challenging services (e.g. dry chlorine, hydrofluoric acid, oxygen).
  • General sizes available are 1/2″ to 12″.
  • Compliant with ASME is the flange rating, either 150, 300, 600, 900# or occasionally higher classes, enabling high performance ball valves to withstand up to 2250 psi.
  • The operating temperature which is primarily dependent on seats and seals may be rated as high as 550°F.
  • Standard valves comply with ASME face-to-face  dimensions,  making the ball valve easy to retrofit and replace.

Articles You May Like :

What is On/off valve ?

JT Valve Principle

Control Valve Facts

Globe Valve Seat

Valve Characteristics

Don't Miss Our Updates
Be the first to get exclusive content straight to your email.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
You've successfully subscribed !

Continue Reading

Float Level Switch Working Principle Animation
Open Channel Flow Measurement Principle
Bellows Pressure Sensors Working Principle Animation
What is a 3-way Solenoid Valve ?
Control Valve Recommended Practices for Harsh Process Conditions
What is Ball Valve ?
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Copy Link
Share
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

128.3kFollowersLike
69.1kFollowersFollow
210kSubscribersSubscribe
38kFollowersFollow

Categories

Explore More

5 Port 2 Position Valve Working Principle
Proximity switches Circuit Diagram Operation
Purpose of 100% and 30% Feed Control Valves in a Power Plant
Solenoid Valve Functional Testing
Pitot Tube Working Principle
Open Loop and Closed Loop Animation
Working Principle of Flow Switch with Animation
Butterfly Valves – Concentric, Double-offset, and Triple-offset

Keep Learning

Capacitance Type Level Transmitter Working Principle

Capacitance Level Transmitter Animation

Vibrating Fork Level Switch Working Animation

Vibrating Fork Level Switch Working Animation

gate-valve-principle-animation

Basics of Gate Valves

trip solenoid installed on a control valve appears

SIS Final Control Elements

Air Lock Relay Working Principle

Control Valve Air Lock Relay Working Principle

3-way solenoid valves control instrument air pressure

Solenoid Valve’s Energized or De-energized State ?

Pneumatic Valves Questions & Answers

Pneumatic Valves Questions & Answers

Basic Configuration of Motor Operated Valve

Rotork Motor Operated Valve Basic Configuration

Learn More

Cascade-Temperature-Control-System

Cascade Temperature Control System

MTech Project Ideas for Electronics and Electrical Engineering

100 MTech Project Ideas for Electronics and Electrical Engineering

Infrared Flue Gas Analyser

What is Infrared Flue Gas Analyzer? – Working Principle

PLC DIN Rail

What is DIN rail ?

Dew Point in Instrument Air

Dew Point in Instrument Air

cable-trays-glossary

Cable Trays Glossary

Control 3 Motors with Toggle Switch

PLC Ladder Logic Design: Control 3 Motors with Toggle Switch

Electropneumatic Valve Positioner Working Principle

Electro Pneumatic Valve Positioner Schematic & Principle

Menu

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Quick Links

  • Learn PLC
  • Helping Hand
  • Part Time Job

YouTube Subscribe

Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?