The ball valve came out in the 1950s. With the rapid development of science and technology, the continuous improvement of production technology and product structure, in a short period of 50 years, it has rapidly developed into a major valve category. According to ball valve manufacturers, the use of ball valves is increasing year by year in countries with developed western industries.

The ball valve is mainly used to cut off, distribute and change the flow direction of the medium in the pipeline. It only needs to rotate 90 degrees and a small torque to close tightly. The ball valve is most suitable for use as a switch and shut-off valve.

Since the ball valve usually uses rubber, nylon and polytetrafluoroethylene as the seat sealing ring material, its use temperature is limited by the seat sealing ring material. The cut-off function of the ball valve is accomplished by pressing the metal ball against each other between the plastic valve seats under the action of the medium (floating ball valve). Under the action of certain contact pressure, the seat sealing ring has elastic-plastic deformation in some areas. This deformation can compensate the manufacturing accuracy and surface roughness of the ball, and ensure the sealing performance of the ball valve.

In addition, since the seat sealing ring of the ball valve is usually made of plastic, when selecting the structure and performance of the ball valve, the fire resistance and fire resistance of the ball valve must be considered, especially in the petroleum, chemical, metallurgical and other sectors, in the flammable and explosive media Ball valves are used in the equipment and piping systems, and more attention should be paid to fire and fire resistance.

Ball valves are divided into: floating ball valve, fixed ball valve, orbital ball valve, V-shaped ball valve, three-way ball valve, stainless steel ball valve, floating ball valve, cast steel ball valve, forged steel ball valve, ash unloading ball valve, anti-sulfur ball valve, card sleeve ball valve, Welded ball valve.

Stainless Steel Ball Valve

The characteristics of the ball valve:

1. Has the lowest flow resistance (actually zero).

2. It will not be stuck when there is no lubricant, so it can be reliably applied to corrosive media and low boiling point liquids.

3. 100% sealing can be achieved in a larger pressure and temperature range.

4. It can realize ultra-fast opening and closing, and the opening and closing time of some structures is only 0.05~0.1s to ensure that it can be used in the automation system of the test bench. When opening and closing the valve quickly, the operation has no impact.

5. The spherical closure can be automatically positioned in position.

6. The working medium is reliably sealed on both sides.

7. When fully open and fully closed, the sealing surface of the ball and the valve seat is isolated from the medium, so the medium passing through the valve at high speed will not cause erosion of the sealing surface.

8. With compact structure and light weight, it can be considered as the most reasonable valve structure suitable for cryogenic medium systems.

9. The valve body is symmetrical, especially when the valve body structure is welded, which can withstand the stress from the pipeline well.

10. The closing piece can withstand the high pressure difference when closing.

11. The ball valve with a fully welded body can be directly buried in the ground, so that the internal parts of the valve are not corroded, and the maximum service life can reach 30 years. It is the most ideal valve for oil and natural gas pipelines.

Applicable occasions of ball valve:

Many unique characteristics of the ball valve determine the relatively wide range of applications of the ball valve. Usually, it is in two-position adjustment, strict sealing performance, mud, abrasion, necking passage, rapid opening and closing action (1/4 turn opening and closing), high pressure cutoff ( Large pressure difference), low noise, cavitation and vaporization, a small amount of leakage to the atmosphere, small operating torque, small fluid resistance, a ball valve is recommended.

Many unique characteristics of the ball valve determine the relatively wide range of applications of the ball valve. Usually, it is in two-position adjustment, strict sealing performance, mud, abrasion, necking passage, rapid opening and closing action (1/4 turn opening and closing), high pressure cutoff ( Large pressure difference), low noise, cavitation and vaporization, a small amount of leakage to the atmosphere, small operating torque, small fluid resistance, a ball valve is recommended.

Ball valves are also suitable for piping systems with light structure, low pressure cut-off (small pressure difference), and corrosive media. Ball valves can also be used in low temperature (cryogenic) devices and pipeline systems. In the oxygen pipeline system of the metallurgical industry, ball valves that have undergone strict degreasing treatment are required. When the main line in the oil pipeline and gas pipeline needs to be buried underground, full-diameter welded ball valves are required. When the adjustment performance is required, a ball valve with a special structure with a V-shaped opening should be selected. In petroleum, petrochemical, chemical, electric power, and urban construction, metal-to-metal sealed ball valves can be used for pipeline systems with operating temperatures above 200 degrees.

Principles of ball valve application:

1.For oil and natural gas transmission main lines, pipelines that need to be cleaned, and those that need to be buried in the ground, use full-passage, full-welded ball valves;

2.For those buried in the ground, choose all-pass welded or flanged ball valves; for branch pipes, choose flanged, welded, all-passed or reduced diameter ball valves.

3.Flanged ball valves are used for the transportation pipeline and storage equipment of refined oil.

4.For city gas and natural gas pipelines, use floating ball valves with flange connection and internal thread connection.

5.In the oxygen pipeline system in the metallurgical system, a fixed ball valve that has undergone strict degreasing treatment and flanged connection should be used.

6.For piping systems and devices for low-temperature media, a low-temperature ball valve with a valve cover should be used.

7.On the piping system of the catalytic cracking unit of the oil refining unit, a lifting rod ball valve can be used.

8.In the equipment and pipeline system of corrosive media such as acid and alkali in chemical system, it is advisable to use all stainless steel ball valves made of austenitic stainless steel and PTFE as the seat and sealing ring.

9.Metal-to-metal sealing ball valves can be used on pipeline systems or devices for high-temperature media in metallurgical systems, power systems, petrochemical plants, and urban heating systems.

10.When flow adjustment is required, a worm gear driven, pneumatic or electric ball valve with V-shaped opening can be used.

The use of ball valves is very wide, and the variety and quantity of use continue to expand, and it is developing towards high pressure, high temperature, large mouth, high sealing, long life, excellent adjustment performance and multi-function of a valve, its reliability and other performance indicators All have reached a high level, and can partially replace gate valves, stop valves, and regulating valves. New types of ball valves are also gradually coming out.

With the advancement of ball valve technology, there will be a wider range of applications in the foreseeable short-term, especially in oil and gas pipelines, oil refining crackers, and the nuclear industry. In addition, ball valves will also become one of the leading valve types in large and medium-sized calibers and medium and low pressure fields in other industries.