For a long time, they were used as shut-off valves in pipelines. valves And valves. During their operation, constant monitoring of condition and maintenance was necessary. However, carrying out such control was not easy and costly: traditional pipeline fittings were large and heavy. Regular problems with it persistently demanded the creation of an easy, convenient, reliable alternative. Such a device turned out to be a ball valve: flanged, with a threaded connection to a pipe, for welding, etc. Read more technical features ball valves one of the famous manufacturing plants - Slovenian company Polix you can on our website.
What's happened ball valve? This is a device that has a ball-shaped closing element that blocks or allows flow in the pipeline. Today, ball valves are used in the construction of main pipelines transporting natural gas and oil, as well as in public utilities (this applies to both gas supply and heating, and water supply and sewerage systems).
What are the advantages of ball valves?
Unlike its predecessors, it has a lot of advantages. The main ones are low cost, lower hydraulic resistance, high tightness, and small size. Another important advantage of Polix ball valves is the dismountable, repairable body. The valve is easy to install, reliable and durable in operation, easy to open and close thanks to innovative seals. It is compact, and you can control the position of the shutter visually. In addition, a ball valve (flanged, coupling or any other) can be quickly and easily repaired without dismantling thanks to the dismountable body.
Types of ball valves
Consists of ball valve from a fixed body and a rotating shutter (ball). According to the type of connection, the device can be flanged, fitting, coupling, combined and welded. These fittings are also divided into full bore and standard bore. It can be round, rectangular, trapezoidal or oval in shape. In addition, ball valves differ in the type of working medium ( gas tap, water tap, etc.) and the design of the body (steel, brass). As for sealing the constipation, ball valves are divided into two categories: with a ball on supports and floating.
One of the most commonly used types of fittings today is a flanged ball valve. It is used in the construction of ships, in the oil, food and many other industries. The working medium in pipes when using a flanged ball valve can be gas and oil products and various liquids.
Buy quality Ball Valves Slovenian manufacturer Polix is available in our company. Our technical service will help with the selection and installation of fittings. Proposed ball valves are supplied directly from the manufacturer, its reliability and long service life are guaranteed.
Frame:
Ball: stainless steel A351-CF8M (AISI 316)
Ball seal: PTFE
Rod seal:
Governing body: lever
Working temperature: :-20С - +160С
Joining: internal thread ISO 7/1 UNI EN 10226/1 - Rp
Du: 6 mm - 100 mm.
Maximum operating pressure: 25 - 140 bar depending on diameter (1)
Sealing: class A
STAINLESS BALL VALVE FOR OXYGEN ART.700016
| Product | |||||
| Item code | Du | RU | Kv | Weight, kg | Delivery time |
| 700016-1/8" | 6 | 140 | 5,0 | 0,26 | 6-8 weeks |
| 700016-1/4" | 8 | 140 | 5,5 | 0,26 | 6-8 weeks |
| 700016-3/8" | 10 | 140 | 8,5 | 0,24 | 6-8 weeks |
| 700016-1/2" | 15 | 140 | 19,2 | 0,33 | 6-8 weeks |
| 700016-3/4" | 20 | 105 | 35,0 | 0,6 | 6-8 weeks |
| 700016-1" | 25 | 105 | 64,5 | 1,01 | 6-8 weeks |
| 700016-1"1/4 | 32 | 64 | 103,8 | 1,31 | 6-8 weeks |
| 700016-1"1/2 | 40 | 64 | 174.0 | 2,15 | 6-8 weeks |
| 700016-2" | 50 | 64 | 301,3 | 3,25 | 6-8 weeks |
| 700016-2"1/2 | 65 | 25 | 545,7 | 6,81 | 6-8 weeks |
| 700016-3" | 80 | 25 | 872,5 | 10,2 | 6-8 weeks |
| 700016-4" | 100 | 25 | 1363,3 | 17,4 | 6-8 weeks |
Application area.
Ball Valves INOX-VAL series article number 700016 are designed to control flows of liquids and gases that are chemically compatible with the materials of the body and seals of the ball valve (see chemical compatibility table). These products are designed to operate in open-closed mode. The regulation mode is allowed only with flows that have low speed, since otherwise there is a high probability of erosion of the ball valve seat or its deformation.
Possibility of automation.
This ball valve comes with a platform on which a quarter-turn valve can be installed. In this case, there is no need to dismantle the ball valve from the pipeline, there is no need to use any special tool, and the process itself takes a few minutes. Please contact our specialists about the possibility of automation.
Production
Stainless steel ball valves of the INOX-VAL series, article number 700016, are produced at Valpres’ own plant (part of the BONOMI GROUP holding) in northern Italy in the Brescia region. All machining of ball valve bodies is carried out at modern equipment. The production uses metalworking and testing tools from the world's leading manufacturers, which allows processing various brands steels with maximum precision and carry out quality control of the operations performed. Ball valve bodies are cast in Europe using injection molds owned by Valpres. All steel intended for castings undergoes 100% incoming inspection, including compliance chemical composition declared, so that consumers can be sure that they are purchasing products from materials that fully comply with those stated in the technical documentation. All ball valves undergo 100% final control, which includes tests for tightness, compliance with the declared torque, tests for body strength, etc. .d.
Quality
The high quality of ball valves produced by Valpres is confirmed by the presence of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 certificates, customs union certificates, many certificates from different countries, special certificates and permits. It is also important to have SIL2 and SIL3 “System Reliability Level” certificates (the probability of equipment failure is up to 0.0001). Additional confirmation High Quality ball valves is a large reference list, which includes the world's leading companies and corporations from various industries. In addition, our company has at its disposal many positive reviews about the operation of Valpres ball valves at Russian enterprises. For questions regarding obtaining a reference list and reviews, please contact the specialists of our company.
How to buy a ball valve
To order the products you are interested in, to clarify the cost, availability or delivery time, you must send a request in any convenient form, or contact by phone without necessarily indicating the exact encodings. It is enough to indicate the basic characteristics. You can also use questionnaire posted on our website. Delivery is usually carried out at our expense to any region of Russia. Contact details can be found in the section.
Guarantee
The warranty for the ball valve is 100,000 cycles or two years from the date of commissioning, but not more than 2.5 years from the date of shipment from our company’s warehouse, whichever comes first. The warranty applies to ball valves operating in open-closed mode with flows of liquids and gases that are chemically compatible with the materials of the body, ball and seals without abrasive inclusions. However, experience shows that Valpres ball valves operate in excess of 500,000 cycles in many cases.
ACCESSORIES FOR BALL VALVES AND BUTTERFLY VALVES
MANUAL GEARBOX
Designed to rotate shut-off valves large diameter. The range includes both standard versions and low-temperature or stainless steel versions. Installation is carried out by specialists of our company. It is also possible to equip valves already in production with a reducer.
CHECK VALVES
In many cases, when installing shut-off valves on process pipelines, it is also necessary to install check valves to prevent flow movement in the opposite direction. Our company can offer a wide range of check valves made of stainless, brass, bronze, steel and cast iron with flange, wafer, and coupling connections.
FILTERS
In the case of a ball valve or butterfly valve operating with a contaminated flow, the use of strainers has a significant impact on the service life of the product. Our company can offer mesh filters made of brass, cast iron, stainless steel with coupling and flange connections.
POSITION SENSOR UNITS
Position sensor blocks are designed to transmit information about the valve position. Our company can equip any valve with position sensor units from a wide range of products, including electromechanical, inductive sensors, explosion-proof and spark-proof versions, sensors in plastic, aluminum and stainless steel housings.
STAINLESS FITTINGS AND FLANGES
To facilitate installation of coupling ball valves and wiring process pipelines, we can deliver various models stainless steel fittings and flanges made of AISI316 steel. The range includes elbows, nipples, American fittings, tees, cross fittings, weld fittings and others.
Dispute on the topic “What is the correct way to say: ball valve or ball valve?” will arise more than once, so let’s clarify right away: in the singular it is correct to say ball valve, and in the plural - ball valves. However, at the time of writing this article, the auto-fill of Yandex and Google when typing “ball valve” first gives the option “ball valve” - since this option is most often used technical specialists in “professional jargon” - we personally prefer “ball valve”.
For simplicity of presentation, we will consider these phrases identical (from a technical point of view) and leave this dispute to our beloved teachers of literature and the Russian language.
So, in this article we will try to consider in detail all the types of ball valves and which ball (ball) valve is best to choose from the whole variety of ball valves.
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We bring to your attention a list of issues that will be considered:
1. What is a ball valve?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of ball valves?
3. What types of ball valves are there based on body material?
4. What types of ball valves are there by type of connection?
5. What types of ball valves are there according to the type of passage?
6. What types of ball valves are there by body type?
7. What types of ball valves are there by type of seal?
8. What types of ball valves are there?
9. What types of ball valves are there by type of control?
10. What parameters are important when choosing a ball valve?
11. Where to buy a ball valve (ball valve)?
12. What is better to install a ball valve, a butterfly valve, a gate valve or a gate valve?
1. What is a ball valve?
Ball valve- This is a type of pipeline fittings, locking element which has the shape of a ball, connected to a handle and designed to block the flow of the working medium in the pipeline. When the handle is turned, the ball rotates around its axis, which is located perpendicular to the flow of the working medium and thereby opens or closes the ball valve.2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of ball valves?
Advantages of ball valves:
- light weight;- small face-to-face length;
- low hydraulic resistance of the working environment;
- possibility of installation in any spatial position;
- good price-quality ratio;
- high class of tightness.
Disadvantages of ball valves:
- high torque for turning the handle;- the occurrence of hydraulic shocks in the pipeline when the tap is opened quickly;
- the need to regularly (at least once a week) open and close the tap to prevent the ball from “sticking”;
- poor applicability of the most common ball valves with fluoroplastic seals at temperatures above 150 degrees C.
3. What types of ball valves are there based on body material?
3.1. Brass ball valve.
Brass ball valves- These are the most common taps in plumbing.
The main advantages of brass taps:
- low price;
- short delivery times;
- good performance characteristics for water and gas;
- resistance to mechanical stress.
The main disadvantages of brass taps:
- a small number of diameters, mainly produced from DN 8 to DN 100 mm;
- lack of welded design;
- unstable operation at temperatures above 200 degrees C;
- impossibility of stable operation on petroleum products.
Steel ball valves- these are cranes made of carbon steel (usually steel 20 or steel 25), which are widely used in industry and housing and communal services.
The main advantages of steel cranes:
- low price;
- big choice models from various manufacturers;
- short delivery times;
- good performance characteristics for hot water and gas;
- resistance to mechanical stress;
- wide model range.
The main disadvantages of steel cranes:
- unstable operation at temperatures less than -40 degrees C;
- difficulties with long-term operation in cold water supply systems;
- impossibility of operation at weak aggressive environments.
3.3. Ball valve made of alloy steel (cold-resistant).
Cold-resistant ball valves- these are cranes made of alloy steel (usually 09G2S) and intended for operation in low temperatures up to -60C, their other properties are the same as steel cranes.
3.4. Ball valve made of stainless steel (stainless).
- these are taps made of stainless steel (usually 12Х18Н10Т and similar), which are widely used in industry.
The main advantages of stainless steel taps:
- wide range of working environments;
- possibility of operation at temperatures down to -60C.
The main disadvantages of stainless taps:
- high price;
- narrow model range, mainly produced from DN 8 to DN 300 mm;
- long delivery times for most cranes.
Cast iron ball valves- these are taps made of gray (malleable) cast iron. Due to the mass production of steel ball valves, cast iron valves have become more expensive and most manufacturers refuse to manufacture them. As a result, since about 2010 in Russia there has been only one manufacturer of cast iron cranes and a large number of illiquid goods that were produced back in the 80s under the USSR. Due to the fact that cast iron taps have no advantages over steel taps, we recommend without any doubt replacing them with steel taps.
3.6. Plastic ball valve
Plastic ball valves- these are taps made mainly of polypropylene and intended for installation on plastic pipes.
The main advantages of polypropylene taps:
- durability comparable to brass;
- price;
- light weight.
The main disadvantages of polypropylene taps:
- Possibility of installation only on plastic pipes.
4. What types of ball valves are there by type of connection?
- these are taps with threaded connections, which are widely used in various fields of industry and housing and communal services. These taps are available from DN8 to DN100, body material: brass, steel and stainless steel. The main advantages of such cranes are: light weight, short construction length, low cost. The disadvantages of coupling ball valves include a narrow range of diameters and difficulty in carrying out maintenance (the valve is clogged with scale, etc.) and repair work.
There are several types of thread:
- ball valve internal-internal with internal thread on both sides;
- ball valve nar-nar(also called a pin-type ball valve) with external thread on both sides;
- union ball valve- this is a type of tap with an external thread, only fittings are screwed onto each thread;
- ball valve vn-nar with internal thread on one side and external thread on the other side;
- ball valve with “American” with internal thread on one side and a union nut on the other side.
- These are valves that attach directly to the return flanges. These taps are available from DN15 to DN800, body materials: cast iron, steel and stainless steel. The main advantages of such valves are: ease of installation and maintenance, applicability for the entire range of pressures. The disadvantages of flanged ball valves include large weight and dimensions, as well as the possibility of the bolts loosening over time and, as a consequence, loss of tightness.
- these are valves with welded ends. These taps are available from DN10 to DN800, body material: steel and stainless steel. The main advantages of such valves are: complete and reliable tightness of the connection, small weight and overall length compared to flanged ones. The disadvantages of welded cranes include the impossibility of maintenance, the complexity of dismantling and replacement.
5. What types of ball valves are there according to the type of passage?
Full bore ball valve- this is a valve in which the declared diameter of the nominal bore Du coincides with the size of the actual bore in the ball. For example, for a full bore valve DN100, both the diameter and the actual passage in the ball are 100 mm.Standard bore ball valve- this is a valve whose declared nominal diameter is always larger than the actual hole in the ball. For example, a standard bore valve Du100 has a nominal bore diameter of 100 mm, and a real bore in the ball of 80 mm. The main advantage of standard bore valves is their lower price compared to full bore valves.
Many will ask - why did the standard bore model appear and is it so popular? (more than 90% of all ball valves are standard bore). The answer is quite interesting. Due to the design of the crane, when low hydraulic resistance of the working medium is achieved when passing through the ball, the throughput of a standard bore crane is sometimes even greater than that of valves and gate valves of the same diameter, and since ball valves have become widespread since 2000, they are without any problems, replace similar fittings without loss of pressure and fluid flow.
ATTENTION!!! If you are buying a ball valve and the invoice or delivery note does not indicate that it is full bore, keep in mind that you are buying a standard bore valve.
6. What types of ball valves are there by body type?
is a non-separable faucet made of carbon, alloy or stainless steel, which, due to its welded body, has more low price compared to collapsible cranes. Considering the service life of the crane is about 20 years, the need for the mandatory use of a collapsible structure arises quite rarely.Collapsible ball valve is a crane that can be disassembled and serviced. The only significant nuance is that without specialized equipment, it is unlikely that it will be possible to carry out high-quality disassembly and maintenance without loss of tightness.
7. What types of ball valves are there by type of seal?
Our experience shows that 99% of all ball valves are produced with a fluoroplastic seal, with the exception of high-temperature versions where a metal-to-metal seal is used.PTFE (fluoroplastic, teflon)– a temperature-resistant polymer that ensures stable operation in hot and cold water, technical oils, hydrocarbon mixtures (petroleum products, natural gas), steam (up to 150C). Range operating temperature from -10С..+150С, maximum permissible temperature-40С..+200С.
Metal to metal- This is a seal in which the valve body and ball are in contact with each other without soft seals. The main advantage of metal seals is their resistance to high temperatures. The main disadvantage can be considered the difficulty of ensuring tightness class A.
8. What types of ball valves are there?
- These are two-way ball valves that are designed to completely shut off the flow of the medium. These are the most popular and widespread faucets.
These are two-way ball valves in which the ball design allows for regulation of the flow of the working medium.
- these are two-way ball valves with an extended stem designed for installation on underground communications with the ability to open or close the valve through a carpet installed on the street. 
- these are ball valves designed for mixing liquid (T-port) or distributing flow (L-port). Such taps are widely used for installing pressure gauges and pressure sensors, as well as in complex technological processes. 
- These are two-way ball valves with the ability to connect a temperature sensor. These ball valves are widely used in the installation of residential heat meters.
9. What types of ball valves are there by type of control?
- these are the most common ball valves with a handle or “butterfly”.
- these are cranes with a mechanical gearbox installed on them. The gearbox must be installed on all valves with diameters over 300 mm, as well as on valves with a smaller diameter, where it is necessary to ensure smooth opening of the ball valve.
- these cranes with electric drives installed on them are used for remote control technological processes, as well as for emergency closure of pipelines.
Ball valve with pneumatic drive- these valves with pneumatic drives installed on them are used for remote control of technological processes, as well as for emergency closure of pipelines in explosive areas in which the installation of an electric drive is unacceptable.
10. What parameters are important when choosing a ball valve?
Many of our customers are faced with the need to install a ball valve on site, but they do not have a brand. In this case, we can select the valve you need.Let's consider what parameters are important when selecting a check valve.
- valve diameter, DN- usually it coincides with the diameter of the pipeline. Standard range of diameters in millimeters and inches: 6, 8, 10 (3/8 inch), 15 (½ inch), 20 (¾ inch), 25 (1 inch), 32 (1 ¼ inch), 40 (1 ½ inch) ), 50 (2"), 65 (2 ½"), 80 (3"), 100 (4"), 125, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600, 700, 800mm .
- conditional valve pressure, Ru- Standard pressure range: 10, 16, 25, 40, 63, 100, 160 kgf/cm2. When choosing a nominal pressure, it is worth considering the fact that for stable and long-term operation of the faucet it is necessary that the operating pressure be 2 times less than the nominal one. For example, the pressure in your pipe is 12 kgf/cm2. It is necessary to install a tap at 25 kgf/cm2. If you set the tap to 16 kgf/cm2, then within a few months the tap may fail.
- body material- the features of the body material of various cranes are described in this article in paragraph 3.
- type of connection- the features of the body material of various cranes are described in this article in paragraph 4.
- valve design- design features of ball valves are described in this article in paragraph 8.
- seal in the valve- the features of seals of various taps are described in this article in paragraph 7.
- equipment manufacturer- this is a very important parameter, because there are now a lot of low-quality Chinese handicraft cranes on the market, which seem to suit all parameters, but during operation they cause so many headaches that savings come at a cost. The second extreme is that many European and American brands try to sell their equipment at 3-5 times more expensive than a normal quality product. What should an ordinary buyer do? In this case, it is advisable to get advice from people you trust - plumbers, installers, reputable sellers.
11. Where to buy a ball valve?
After you have selected the ball valve according to its parameters, all that remains is to simply buy it. When choosing the place where the purchase will be made for you, we will give only a few recommendations that will allow you to avoid mistakes:- the ball valve must be new and have all the necessary documentation and warranties. By new crane we mean a crane that was produced after 2012, which is a maximum of 5 years old. Many sellers of illiquid assets will say - what will happen to it - a piece of iron is like a piece of iron. There are two subtleties here. If the faucet has soft seals, then after 5-7 years of simply sitting, the polymers may lose some of their properties, which can negatively affect operation. And secondly, if the crane is more than 5 years old, it is unlikely that anyone will bear warranty obligations on it and there will be problems with the accompanying documentation.
- the valve must have a reserve for the nominal pressure- this is very important for long and stable operation. Our experience shows that an attempt to select a valve with comparable operating and nominal pressure ends in equipment failure.
- the faucet must be purchased from a reliable seller- people who value their reputation will not sell faucets of dubious quality.
- take into account the recommendations of people you trust- this is important if there is no certainty with the model. In this case, it is worth consulting with experienced installers, operators or sellers. There are a lot of low-quality products on the market, which even for an experienced person are quite difficult to distinguish from normal ones, and there are many branded products that are made in China and sold at 2-3 times the market price with the assurance that this is super equipment and there is no better one in the world.
And if you have taken into account all the subtleties, then the choice of where to buy a check valve is up to you - the most important thing is not to forget about the price-quality ratio.
12. What is better to install a ball valve, a butterfly valve, a shut-off valve or a gate valve?
Our many years of experience with shut-off valves says that there is no universal fittings and for different operating conditions it is necessary to install different types. Let's consider cases in which it makes sense to install ball valves:- household water and gas communications- here we recommend installing brass ball valves.
- industrial gas and oil pipelines
- heating and hot water supply systems- here we recommend the installation of steel flanged and welded valves.
Now let’s look at the most common mistakes when choosing ball valves:
- steel taps cannot be installed in cold water supply systems, since there is a lot of oxygen in the water, and literally within 3-6 months of operation the faucet becomes overgrown with rust and fails. For long-term operation, we recommend installing valves with a rubberized wedge.
- steel valves with a fluoroplastic seal cannot be installed on steam pipelines with a constant steam temperature above 150C, since literally within 1-2 months of operation the seal begins to fail and the valve loses its tightness. For stable operation of steam pipelines, we recommend installing valves with a metal-to-metal seal, which can easily be installed on high temperatures Oh.
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Ball valve is a pipeline valve whose shut-off or control element is spherical. A type of ball valve is a segmented ball valve with a locking or control element in the shape of a ball segment.
The ball rotates around its own axis, located arbitrarily relative to the direction of movement of the working medium flow.
Ball valves began to be used at the beginning of the 20th century. They are the result logical development traditional designs (cone and cylindrical valves) have become a promising and promising direction in the development of pipeline fittings.
Advantages of ball valves:
The same as those of other taps, only more pronounced.
The design features of ball valves make it possible to demonstrate to an even greater extent a number of advantages inherent to the valve as a type of pipeline fittings. These are, first of all, ─ minimal hydraulic resistance (even less than that of conical and cylindrical valves), low torque, compactness and a very important quality for any pipeline fittings ─ high tightness.
Class A tightness indicated in the technical descriptions of models from leading manufacturers according to GOST 9544-2005. Pipeline shut-off valves. Valve tightness classes and standards" means that for valves with a nominal diameter from DN 3 to DN 200 at a nominal pressure PN up to 420, and for valves with a nominal diameter from DN 250 to DN 2000 at a pressure PN up to 200, during the entire holding time There are no visible leaks.
Another advantage of ball valves is their compactness, which allows them to save space by reducing their dimensions, making it possible to install them in limited space, for example, in a parallel piping system .
Ball valves are distinguished by their insensitivity to pressure changes and, therefore, hydraulic shock safety.
In the case of a fully open ball valve, its flow area is comparable to the diameter of the pipeline, which means there is no change in the hydraulic parameters of the controlled working environment. In addition, in a full bore ball valve, due to the peculiarities of its design, there is no stagnation of solid particles falling out of the liquids containing them, and, therefore, no sediment is formed.
Applications of ball valves
Characteristic of ball valves is a wide range of sizes, easy integration into any technological lines, availability in various ways connections to pipelines and the ability to install different drives help expand the scope of their application. Ball valves are used to control working media of a wide variety of composition and properties - liquid, gaseous, and containing solid particles. Ball valves not only successfully cope with high-temperature working environments, but are also able to function in environment with increased or decreased temperature (for example, in cryogenic technology for moving liquid nitrogen or oxygen), including in continuous operation.
Ball valves for water control the flow of both ordinary “tap” water circulating in water supply networks and distilled, thermal (mineral), sea (salty) water. Water can not only be clean, but also contain solids, including abrasive particles, rust, lime, paints and varnishes, including solvents and other chemical contaminants; be overheated to 200 or more degrees Celsius and very cold, with a temperature of minus 30 O C, due to the content of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol.
Ball valves are used in pipeline systems that move the entire range of petroleum products: petrochemical raw materials, lubricants, light petroleum products, gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil and even viscous compounds such as construction and road bitumen.
But the list of working media whose flows can be controlled using ball valves is not limited to water and petroleum products. It also includes a variety of chemical products: alkalis, acids, solvents (for example, acetone), varnishes, paints, soda, isocyanates used for the manufacture of foam plastics, rubber, paints and adhesives, hydrogen peroxide, methane, ethylene, and other substances.
Ball valves installed on water, oil, gas, product and other pipelines are used in many sectors of the national economy with different requirements to pipeline fittings and different operating conditions. In the chemical industry, where we often have to deal with unusually aggressive working environments. In the mining (especially in industries involved in mineral processing) and metallurgical industries, which are characterized by particularly difficult operating conditions. At distribution stations, oil production and oil refining enterprises. In pharmaceutical production and food industry enterprises that require special cleanliness, and sometimes sterility, for example, in the production of alcohol-containing beverages. In heat and power engineering (state district power stations, hydroelectric power stations, boiler houses, systems and water treatment) and the housing and communal services system (heating networks and cold water supply and sewerage networks).
There are several ways to install a ball into the body of a ball valve.
The housing may be a composite structure of two (2-piece) or more parts (usually 3-piece) bolted together (much like a flange connection). The advantages of such a technical solution are obvious - ease of maintenance and repair. Thus, the three-part design allows you to replace and tighten gaskets, carry out maintenance and repair work without dismantling the crane.
But when operating ball valves with a composite body, one should take into account the possibility of a violation of the tightness and involuntary opening of the connectors in the event of violation of the maintenance regulations.
Designs with connectors in the upper part of the housing or connectors located perpendicular or at an angle to the axis of the pipeline are possible. Through them, the ball and o-rings are inserted into the body. Finally, another option is a welded case that does not have connectors.
Depending on the method of fixing the locking (regulating) element, there are two possible modifications of the movable interface: ball valves with a floating plug (with a floating ball) and ball valves with a plug in the supports (ball with a fixed axis). In the first case, the sealing of the shut-off element occurs due to self-sealing ─ the floating ball, under the influence of the pressure of the working medium, is pressed against the seat and fixed by sealing seats, which absorb the load from the pressure difference. This guarantees a reliable, tight, leak-free fit of the ball to the seat, as well as “automatic” compensation for seat wear.
In the second case, the plug is fixed by pins in the lid and body of the tap, as a result of which the load falls on the support bearings. Design features cannot but influence the functional properties of ball valves of different designs. Ball valves with a floating plug are used for more low pressures and temperatures, and ball valves with a plug in the supports are installed on pipelines of large (more than 500 mm) diameter.
The design of ball valves can be implemented in various Constructive decisions aimed at increasing their functionality. Thus, in ball valves with a V-shaped cutout it is possible to ensure a continuous flow with no large differences pressure, which makes it possible to use them to control slurries and viscous liquids.
To reduce the increased forces acting on the seats in ball valves with a large nominal diameter and leading to premature wear of the sealing surfaces, automatic pressing of the sealing ring under the influence of the working environment can be provided prior to the rotation of the ball. Another way to reduce the mechanical loads on the seats is to supply them with lubricant.
Just like for other types of fittings for ball valves, you can use Various types connection to the pipeline. The most common are flanged, welded and coupling.
What are ball valves made of?
The bodies of ball valves are made of cast iron, carbon or stainless steel (forgings, rolled products and castings), and valves with a small nominal diameter are also made of non-ferrous metal alloys. The use of ball valves with a stainless steel body is important not only for controlling aggressive working environments, but also for environments that require high standards of cleanliness, for example, in the food industry, as well as in cryogenic equipment operating at very low temperatures.
The closing (regulating) element of a ball valve ─ ball─ is made of steel, brass, and ceramics. The quality of the surface finish is very important for the ball - the higher it is, the lower the friction and wear of the seats. Stainless steel balls are highly resistant to corrosion. The desire to obtain ball valves that are even more resistant to wear and corrosion has led to the appearance of balls made of ceramic materials.
The list of materials from which ball valve seats are made includes rubber, fluoroplastic, nylon, polyester, bronze and other materials. Their choice depends on the operating conditions of the ball valve and the properties of the working environment. In valves used in high temperatures, abrasive media and fire hazard conditions, solid metal seals are installed. They are also used for large pressure drops and high velocities of the working fluid. Besides, elevated temperatures thermally expanded graphite and polyamide effectively resist.
Seals made of fluoroplastic, including fluoroplastic with fillers made of glass, graphite, and metal powder, are distinguished by wear resistance and the ability to provide high tightness.
Ball valve control
Ball valves can be controlled by a manual (handle, flywheel, through a gearbox) or a non-full-rotary mechanized drive ─ pneumatic (single- or double-acting), electric (in general industrial or explosion-proof versions), hydraulic. Valves with a mechanized drive are used in pipelines with high pressure and large diameter. Additionally, they can be equipped with a manual override. Ball valves with pneumatic drive are equipped with an electro-pneumatic distributor and a limit switch block.
When calculating the drive of ball valves, the following factors are taken into account: speed and viscosity of the working medium, coefficient of friction of sealing materials, temperature effects.
Considering that it is very important for ball valves to rotate exactly 90 O per cycle, adjustable limit switches can be mounted on them to ensure the accuracy of the “open” and “closed” positions, and to prevent the risk of accidental intervention of the ball valve in the operation pipeline system─ mechanical locks of the crane controls in extreme positions.
The first area of application for ball valves that appeared before the start of World War II was aircraft fuel systems. But very quickly they became interested in other industries, and already in the 50s XX century, a large-scale expansion of ball valves began in a variety of technology areas. This process continues today.
Over the past decades, a huge step forward has been made in the development of ball valves: their production volumes have increased sharply, new designs have been created, in which various innovations and original ones have found their place. technical solutions. Ball valves can rightfully be considered one of the flagships of modern pipeline fittings.
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Cranes. Part 2
The plug has a through hole, the position of which relative to the passage holes in the body determines the degree of opening and flow of the medium through the tap. The positions of the plug, differing by 90°, determine the complete opening or closing of the medium flow. Cranes, like other rotary valve structures, require a minimum amount of work during installation, are easy to operate, have fast response and create relatively little distortion (deformation) of the flow.
Cranes. Part 1
The valves have a valve in the form of a body of revolution, rotating around its axis perpendicular to the axis of the medium flow. The stopper of a faucet is often called a stopper. The valve plug has a hole perpendicular to the axis of the body of rotation, which serves for the passage of flow.
Pipeline details
Pipeline parts are designed for various connections. Often, pipeline parts are used in construction for a wide variety of purposes, which are used for bends, turns, changes in the diameter of pipes, as well as bends and in cases of temporary (emergency) non-use of the pipeline.
Cranes. Part 2
Plug taps
The name plug valve or simply valve is given to a type of fittings consisting of a body with a conical or, much less commonly, cylindrical mounting hole in which a plug is installed.
The plug has a through hole, the position of which relative to the passage holes in the body determines the degree of opening and flow of the medium through the tap. The positions of the plug, differing by 90°, determine the complete opening or closing of the medium flow. Cranes, like other rotary valve structures, require a minimum amount of work during installation, are easy to operate, have fast response and create relatively little distortion (deformation) of the flow.
The pressure drop in the valve is small, and the valves are easily made into multi-way valves. Valves are used in all industries in environments where closure at low temperatures is acceptable and valve cavities are negligible.
There are many modifications and designs of cranes.
1. Valves without lubrication, in which it is possible to structurally ensure a low friction force between the surfaces of the plug and the body.
2. Lubricated valves, in which a special sealing lubricant can be introduced during periodic maintenance under pressure between the sealing surfaces of the plug and body.
They can be further classified according to the configuration of the plug and pipes:
1. Full bore cylindrical with full area round hole both in the plug and in the body;
2. Rectangular - with rectangular holes in the body and plug;
3. Narrowed - when the area of the hole in the plug is less than the area of standard pipelines;
4. Diamond-shaped - when the hole in the cork is diamond-shaped;
5. Multi-port - with three or more nozzles, used primarily to drain or move the medium;
6. Eccentric - combining half of the plug for direct passage of the medium with high throughput and one-sided hermetically sealed closure.
The taps are made from various materials: bronze, brass, carbon and stainless steel, as well as “exotic” alloys and polymers. There are also full bore valves, where all surfaces in contact with the medium are coated with fluoroplastic or fusible graphite, for highly corrosive and toxic environments.
Non-lubricated taps
This is the simplest valve design, widely used in the chemical and petrochemical industries where lubricants are not applicable. A tightened seal or spring-loaded plug reduces wear and makes operation easier. Tapered or parallel plugs provide stick-free control with consistent seating force and require less maintenance. The self-lubricating properties of plastics such as PTFE make valves particularly attractive for applications where conventional valve lubricants are not suitable.
There is a version of the valve without lubrication, where the plug has the shape of two segments connected in several places and forming an elastic sealing structure that is pressed against the valve body. The plug is integral with the valve stem and can be raised and lowered when rotated 90° using a special control device. This design eliminates seal wear and is completely fireproof and sealed at the inlet and outlet ports, thus providing "double" drainage in the closed position.
Lubricated taps
This design is widely used for the storage and transportation of petroleum products, in distribution and purification plants up to a pressure of 6.3 MPa and is manufactured with conical or cylindrical pipes. Sealing lubricant is injected under pressure into the gap between the sealing surfaces of the body and plug. It is forced through the non-return valve by a screw-type grease nipple and reaches the sealing surfaces through a system of tubes or grooves in the plug and body. The lubricant eliminates leaks between the plug and the body and protects the sealing surfaces from corrosion and erosion. Sealing surfaces can also be coated with fluoroplastic to ensure specified technical characteristics.
Balanced Cone Valves
In conventional conical valves, the pressure in the open position can spread into the cavity under the plug. Under these conditions, the resulting force will act on the plug towards the chamber, causing the valve to jam. Balanced cone valves are designed to use line pressure to balance the forces in the valve.
The balancing system contains two holes in the plug to connect the cavities above and below the plug with the pressure in the system. Through the connecting line, the pressure under the small end of the plug is balanced by the resulting force and prevents the plug from blocking, but lubricant must be regularly supplied to ensure full rotation of the plug.
Eccentric taps
These valves are used in water and wastewater systems and are capable of changing the elasticity of the plug to ensure a tight seal without the use of sealing compound. When the passage is closed, the sealing surface of the plug moves without friction against the sealing surface of the body. This eliminates sticking and wear, and the valves are used on raw wastewater, air, water supplies, gas lines, fines and all other types of slurries.
Lined taps
Cranes can be made from relatively inexpensive cast iron, while increasing corrosion resistance internal surfaces housings and plugs are completely covered with Teflon. This makes the valves suitable for all aggressive environments at low cost.
The lining is held in grooves in the housing to secure it and is typically 3mm thick over the entire area to resist abrasive wear. If the lining is damaged, the housing is subject to corrosion.
These valves are typically used in systems where pipes are lined, which is much more economical than use in high alloy and all-plastic piping systems, which are more difficult to maintain.
Advantages of plug valves: rotation by 90° between the “open” and “closed” positions, protection of sealing surfaces, ease of installation in the system, minimal hydraulic resistance, simple and robust design, long service life. Plug valves are fittings with a top connector, and the plug can be inserted into the body without removing the valve from the pipeline.
Plug valve control
Plug valves can be operated manually wrench, crank, gearbox or part-turn actuator driven by pneumatics, hydraulics or electricity.
Technical specifications:
Flow sections: DN 15...700 mm (1/2″... 28″);
Working pressure: 0.1...6.3 MPa
Operating temperature: −40...+240°С
Materials: Nodular cast iron, carbon steel and all high alloy stainless steels.
Connection: Flange, threaded, butt welding, socket welding.
Application: Multi-purpose, including at nuclear power plants, fire hazardous, chlorine environments, for regulation, in vacuum, heating, taps.
Ball Valves
Currently, ball valves, the prototype of which were traditional valves, are equipped with new elastomers and polymer materials for O-rings, became completely sealed. Other characteristics of ball valves include minimal flow resistance, low torque, 90° rotation between closed and open positions, low operating costs, compact design and fireproof design that closes the valve in the event of a fire in the plant. Valves include body, ball plug, stem and O-rings.
There are two basic designs of ball valves: valves with a floating plug, where the ball is supported by O-rings, and valves with a plug in supports. The latter are more suitable for high pressures and large diameters. Ball valves are also available with solid metal O-rings for use in abrasive, high temperature, throttling and fire hazardous applications.
There are four ways to install the ball into the body in both basic versions:
1. The housing is made with one or two connectors and consists of two or three parts that act as flanges. The body parts are connected by bolts located around them. This design is called two- or three-piece body valves.
2. The ball and O-rings are inserted through the top connector. This design is called a “top connector faucet.”
3. The ball and o-rings are inserted into the housing through a connector located perpendicularly or at an angle to the axis of the pipeline. This design is called a "vertical or inclined faucet".
4. The faucet body is welded and has no connectors. Repair of these cranes can only be carried out in workshops equipped with special equipment.
Valves with two or three-piece bodies have the advantage of ease of maintenance and repair. Cranes with a top connector provide conditions for their maintenance without dismantling the body, and therefore their use is preferable from the point of view of safety and efficiency. Installation of taps eliminates the possibility of leaks through the housing connectors and their involuntary opening during maintenance.
Ball valves can be made from rolled products, forgings or castings in designs with one, two or three connectors with threaded or butt-welded or socket-welded nozzles.
Ball valves with floating (supported by seats) plugs are used at low pressures and temperatures. In valves with a plug in the supports, the load from the differential pressure in the closed position is absorbed by the support bearings, and not by the sealing seats. This allows them to be used at significantly higher pressures and temperatures.
Ball valves can be made full bore or narrowed. In full bore valves, the bore diameter corresponds to internal diameter pipeline.
The materials usually used in the manufacture of ball valves are carbon steel 20L or 25L or rolled steel of similar grades for body parts and alloy steel 20×13 and 14×17N2 for plugs and rods. For use in corrosive or low-temperature environments, valve bodies and plugs are made of stainless alloys. For O-rings and rod seals, pure or filled fluoroplastic is used, both chemically resistant and low friction. However, fluoroplastic loses its properties at temperatures above 100°C, and at a temperature of 230°C its resistance drops to 0. This forced the use of graphs of operating pressure versus temperature for soft valve seals.
Nylons, polyester ketones, flubon and other modifications of fluoroplastic, graphite seals, usually thermally expanded graphite are used to increase resistance to high pressures and temperatures.
Fully lined ball valves, like plug valves, are manufactured for highly aggressive operating environments. All surfaces in contact with the medium are protected with a fluorocarbon coating. The ball can also be fully lined or made of hard ceramic and provides less torque than lined plug valves. As with lined plug valves, if the coating is damaged, the life of the unprotected metal body is significantly reduced.
Ball valves with soft sealing rings can be used for control of low pressure drops only. Otherwise, the high velocity of the medium will quickly destroy the O-rings. If it is necessary to use valves for regulation with large pressure drops and high speeds of working media, metal sealing rings and hard coatings of balls are used.
Ball valves for low temperatures
Ball valves are increasingly used for low temperature applications, including cryogenic, liquefied natural and petroleum gas, liquid nitrogen, oxygen. This makes it easy to automate technological processes and expands the range of application of ball valves. Valves for low temperatures (up to −50° C) are made of carbon steel, and for temperatures up to −196° C - of stainless steel. PTFE seals become rigid at low temperatures, which causes a sharp increase in torque. The extended cover protects the rod O-rings from cryogenic temperatures and ice formation around it.
Ball valves for high temperatures
The maximum temperatures at which ball valves can operate are determined by the high temperature resistance of the sealing materials. Pure fluoroplastic has a high coefficient of thermal expansion. To reduce this coefficient, silicone or graphite admixtures can be used. Conventional materials can be used at temperatures below 240° C. For higher temperatures, other materials must be used, such as thermally expanded graphite, polyimide, PEEK or PES, which can increase temperature limit up to 350° C.
Ball valves with metal seals are becoming increasingly popular in applications both in abrasive media and at high temperatures, up to 1000°C.
The use of ball valves is becoming as wide and varied as the technological processes in industry. It spreads from simple conditions applications such as water, solvents, acids and natural gas, to more difficult and hazardous applications such as oxygen gas, hydrogen peroxide, methane and ethylene.
Temperature and seal material limitations are being reduced as a result of research and the development of new materials, making it possible to expand the use of ball valves in the future.
Ball valve control
Ball valves can be operated manually by a handle or handwheel, through a gearbox, or by a part-turn actuator controlled electrically, hydraulically, or pneumatically.
Technical specifications
Dimensions: 15...1400 mm (1/2"...56″).
Working pressure: From vacuum to 40 MPa.
Operating temperature: From cryogenic to +260°C (soft seal); From cryogenic to +800°C (metal seal).
Materials: Most casting alloys
Connections: Flanged, threaded, welded
Application: All general conditions, high flow rates, low pressure drops, fast response, chemical resistance, clean environments.
Special: For dusty or abrasive environments, low or high temperature applications, nuclear installations, marine environments, chlorine, oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, fluorine applications, tobacco industry, high vacuum, high cycle count, space applications.
