Ball valve

Ball valve is a kind of valve whose opening and closing parts (sphere) are driven by the stem and rotate around the axis of the ball valve. It can also be used for fluid regulation and control. Hard-sealed V-type ball valve has strong shear force between V-type ball core and metal seat of hardfacing carbide, especially for medium containing fibers and micro-solid particles. In the pipeline, the multi-pass ball valve can not only flexibly control the confluence, diversion and flow switching of medium, but also close any channel and connect the other two channels. Valves of this type shall generally be installed horizontally in pipes. Ball valves are divided into:

• 3 way ball valve
• Top-entry ball valve
• Split-body ball valve

Ports: Full port
Body style: One piece, two piece, T type, L type
Size range: ½” – 6″ (15mm – 150mm)
Temperature range: -50°f to 650°f (-46°c to 343°c)
Pressure ratings: PN16-PN40, CLASS150-300LB, JIS10K–20K
End connections: PN16-PN40, CLASS150-300LB, JIS10K–20K
Body materials: Stainless steel（CF8、CF8M、CF3M）、 carbon steel (WCB)
Seat materials: PTFE、PEEK
Applications: Process, tank farms, fueling, oil & gas

Ball Valve Parts

Major components of the ball valve are the body, spherical ball, steam, and seats. The ball valve can be metal seated or soft seated. A ball valve may be unidirectional, bidirectional, or multidirectional, depending on the number of valve ports and the number of valve seats. Same as multiport plug valve.

Floating Ball Valve

In floating ball valve, the ball is held in the position by the compression of the two elastomeric seats against the ball. The ball is free to float inside the valve body.  See the highlighted portion in the image and remember as you will see the difference when I will explain you about trunnion mounted ball valve.

Image – TROUVAY & CAUVIN

The stem is connected to a slot at the top of the ball which allows the ball to rotate a quarter turn (90 degrees).  The shaft allows for a certain amount of lateral movement of the ball that is generated from the upstream pressure acting on the ball.  This small lateral movement, in fact, produces a load on the ball that presses it against the downstream seat which improves leak tightness of valve. This type of ball valve design is, therefore, capable of bi-directional shut-off. Floating ball valve is very difficult to operate when upstream pressure is high. You can see the image of floating ball valve.

Trunnion Mounted Ball Valve

Trunnion mounted ball valve is a solution to the problem of excessive torque required by floating ball valve in high-pressure service. A short shaft like an extension that called trunnion set in the body. You can see this in the image.  In this design steam and ball work as a single unit. The ball is supported by two floating or spring-loaded seats that remain in constant contact with the ball.

Image – TROUVAY & CAUVIN

Trunnion ball design required a lower operating torque. Hence, reduces the size of the actuator and overall costs of the valve. This cost difference becomes an important factor when the pressure class and valve size increases.

Types of Ball Valves

Ball valves are manufactured in different body arrangements. Based on this valve can be classified in following ways;

• Top entry
• Side entry or split body
• Three-piece body

For Extremely high pressure and temperature services, full welded body is also used.

Top-Entry Ball Valve

Image – TROUVAY & CAUVIN

As you can see in the image above, removing bonnet cover of top entry ball valves, allows access to valve internals for assembly, disassembly, repair, or maintenance without removing the valve from the pipeline.

Split-Body Ball Valve

In this design, a valve body is divided into two or three body parts. A ball, seat rings, stem, and other internals set inside the larger body part and held together with smaller part by bolting.

For split body two pieces ball valve, refer floating ball valve image. Refer below image for split body three pieces ball valve.

Image – TROUVAY & CAUVIN

1 PC wafer ball valve

Ports: full port
Body style: one piece
Size range: ½” – 6″ (15mm – 150mm)
Temperature range: -50°f to 650°f (-46°c to 343°c)
Pressure ratings: PN16-PN40,CLASS150-300LB,JIS10K–20K
End connections:PN16-PN40,CLASS150-300LB,JIS10K–20K
Body materials: stainless steel（CF8、CF8M、CF3M）、 carbon steel (WCB)
Seat materials: PTFE、PEEK
Applications: process, tank farms, fueling, oil & gas

Specifications
Working Pressure: 1.6-4.0MPa
Temperature Range: -20-300^
Suitable medium: Water,oil,air and some Corrosive liquid
Design: GB/T12237/1989
End Flange: JB79
Fire Safe: API 607 4th1993
Inspection & Testing: GB/T13927-1992

SIZE	Φd	ΦR	ΦC	ΦD	f	T	L	H1	H	A	P	N-ΦM	W	ΦA1	ΦA2	ΦB1	ΦB2
1/2″	15	45	65	95	2	14	42	77	46	9	9	4-M12	135	6	6	36	42
3/4″	20	55	75	105	2	14	44	85	51	9	9	4-M12	135	6	7	36	42
1″	25	65	85	115	2	14	50	94	62	11	11	4-M12	170	6	7	42	50
1-1/4″	32	78	100	135	2	16	60	104	72	11	11	4-M16	170	6	9	42	50
1-1/2″	38	85	110	145	3	16	65	114	78	14	14	4-M16	200	7	9	50	70
2″	50	100	125	160	3	16	80	120	86	14	14	4-M16	200	7	9	50	70
2-1/2″	63.5	120	145	180	3	18	110	158	108	17	17	4-M16	300	9	11	70	102
3″	76	135	160	195	3	20	120	165	116	17	17	8-M16	300	9	11	70	102
4″	95	155	180	215	3	20	150	182	139	22	22	8-M16	400	–	11	–	102
5″	118	185	210	245	3	22	180	224	176	27	27	8-M16	800	14	–	125	–
6″	142	210	240	280	3	24	225	268	192	27	27	8-M20	800	14	–	125	–

2-PC ball valve

Design: ASME B16.34 API608
Fire Safe: API 607 4th1993
Face to Face: JIS B 2002
End Flange: JIS B2212~B213
InspectiΦn & Testing: JIS B2003,API6D

Ports: full port
Body style: two piece
Size range: ½” – 12″ (12mm – 300mm)
Temperature range: -50°f to 650°f (-46°c to 343°c)
Pressure ratings: 10K 20K
End connections: JIS 10K 20K
Body materials: stainless steel（CF8、CF8M、CF3M）、 carbon steel (WCB)
Seat materials: PTFE、PEEK
Applications: process, tank farms, fueling, oil & gas

JIS 10K

NPS	ΦD	L	ΦE	ΦB	ΦC	T	f	N-Φh	H	H1	W	M	P	ΦA1	ΦA2	B1	B2
15	15	108	95	70	52	12	1	4-15	48	79	135	9	9	6	6	36	42
20	20	117	100	75	58	14	1	4-15	53	84	135	9	9	6	6	36	42
25	25	127	125	90	70	14	1	4-19	64	95	170	11	11	6	7	42	50
32	32	140	135	100	80	16	2	4-19	71	103	170	11	11	6	7	42	50
40	38	165	140	105	85	16	2	4-19	76	111	200	14	14	7	9	50	70
50	50	178	155	120	100	16	2	4-19	85	120	200	14	14	7	9	50	70
65	64	190	175	140	120	18	2	4-19	104	153	300	17	17	9	11	70	102
80	76	203	185	150	130	18	2	8-19	114	163	300	17	17	9	11	70	102
100	100	229	210	175	155	18	2	8-19	140	182	400	22	22	non	11	non	102
125	125	356	250	210	185	20	2	8-23	183	260	800	27	27	14	non	125	non
150	150	394	280	240	215	22	2	8-23	202	280	800	27	27	14	non	125	non
200	200	457	330	290	265	22	2	12-23	253	non	800	27	27	14	non	125	non

JIS 20K

NPS	ΦD	L	ΦE	ΦB	ΦC	T	f	N-Φh	H	H1	W	M	P	ΦA1	ΦA2	B1	B2
15	15	140	95	70	52	14	1	4-15	48	79	135	9	9	6	6	36	42
20	20	152	100	75	58	16	1	4-15	53	84	135	9	9	6	6	36	42
25	25	165	125	90	70	16	1	4-19	64	95	170	11	11	6	7	42	50
32	32	178	135	100	80	18	2	4-19	71	103	170	11	11	6	7	42	50
40	38	190	140	105	85	18	2	4-19	76	111	200	14	14	7	9	50	70
50	50	216	155	120	100	18	2	8-19	85	120	200	14	14	7	9	50	70
65	64	241	175	140	120	20	2	8-19	104	153	300	17	17	9	11	70	102
80	76	283	200	160	135	22	2	8-23	114	163	300	17	17	9	11	70	102
100	100	305	225	185	160	24	2	8-23	140	182	400	22	22	non	11	non	102
125	125	381	270	225	195	26	2	8-25	183	260	800	27	27	14	non	125	non
150	150	403	305	260	230	28	2	12-25	202	280	800	27	27	14	non	125	non
200	200	502	350	305	275	30	2	12-25	253	non	800	27	27	14	non	125	non

3 Way Ball Valve

Body style: T type,L type
Size range: ½” – 8″ (15mm – 200mm)
Temperature range: -50°f to 650°f (-46°c to 343°c)
Pressure ratings: PN16-PN40,Class150-300lb,JIS10-20K
End connections:PN16-PN40,Class150-300lb,JIS10-20K
Body materials: stainless steel（CF8、CF8M、CF3M）、 carbon steel (WCB)
Seat materials: PTFE、PEEK
Applications: process, tank farms, fueling, oil & gas

Three way L type flow diagram

Three way T type flow diagram

1.6Mpa

DN	L	L1	D	D1	D2	D6	b	f	f1	N-Φh	W	M	H	H1	P	ΦA1	ΦA2	B1	B2
15	150	75	95	65	45	–	14	2	–	4-14	135.0	9.0	53.0	83.0	9.0	6.0	6.0	36.0	42.0
20	160	80	105	75	58	–	14	2	–	4-14	135.0	9.0	58.5	88.5	9.0	6.0	6.0	36.0	42.0
25	180	90	115	85	65	–	14	2	–	4-14	170.0	11.0	70.0	104.0	11.0	6.0	7.0	42.0	50.0
32	200	100	135	100	78	–	16	2	–	4-18	170.0	11.0	77.5	111.5	11.0	6.0	7.0	42.0	50.0
40	220	110	150	110	85	–	16	3	–	4-18	200.0	14.0	86.5	120.5	14.0	7.0	9.0	50.0	70.0
50	240	120	160	125	100	–	16	3	–	4-18	200.0	14.0	92.0	126.0	14.0	7.0	9.0	50.0	70.0
65	260	130	180	145	120	–	18	3	–	4-18	300.0	17.0	107.0	155.0	17.0	9.0	11.0	70.0	102.0
80	280	140	195	160	135	–	20	3	–	8-18	300.0	17.0	119.0	167.0	17.0	9.0	11.0	70.0	102.0
100	320	160	215	180	155	–	20	3	–	8-18	400.0	22.0	150.0	214.0	22.0	–	11.0	–	102.0

2.5Mpa

DN	L	L1	D	D1	D2	D6	b	f	f1	N-Φh	W	M	H	H1	P	ΦA1	ΦA2	B1	B2
15	150	75	95	65	45	–	14	2	–	4-14	135.0	9.0	53.0	83.0	9.0	6.0	6.0	36.0	42.0
20	160	80	105	75	58	–	14	2	–	4-14	135.0	9.0	58.5	88.5	9.0	6.0	6.0	36.0	42.0
25	180	90	115	85	65	–	16	2	–	4-14	170.0	11.0	70.0	104.0	11.0	6.0	7.0	42.0	50.0
32	200	100	135	100	78	–	18	2	–	4-18	170.0	11.0	77.5	111.5	11.0	6.0	7.0	42.0	50.0
40	220	110	145	110	85	–	18	3	–	4-18	200.0	14.0	86.5	120.5	14.0	7.0	9.0	50.0	70.0
50	240	120	160	125	100	–	20	3	–	4-18	200.0	14.0	92.0	126.0	14.0	7.0	9.0	50.0	70.0
65	260	130	180	145	120	–	22	3	–	8-18	300.0	17.0	107.0	155.0	17.0	9.0	11.0	70.0	102.0
80	280	140	195	160	135	–	22	3	–	8-18	300.0	17.0	119.0	167.0	17.0	9.0	11.0	70.0	102.0
100	320	160	230	190	160	–	24	3	–	8-23	400.0	22.0	150.0	214.0	22.0	–	11.0	–	102.0

4.0Mpa

DN	L	L1	D	D1	D2	D6	b	f	f1	N-Φh	W	M	H	H1	P	ΦA1	ΦA2	B1	B2
15	150	75	95	65	45	–	14	2	–	4-14	135.0	9.0	53.0	83.0	9.0	6.0	66.0	36.0	42.0
20	160	80	105	75	58	–	14	2	–	4-14	135.0	9.0	58.5	88.5	9.0	6.0	6.0	36.0	42.0
25	180	90	115	85	65	58	16	2	4	4-14	170.0	11.0	70.0	104.0	11.0	6.0	7.0	42.0	50.0
32	200	100	135	100	78	66	18	2	4	4-18	170.0	11.0	77.5	111.5	11.0	6.0	7.0	42.0	50.0
40	220	110	145	110	85	76	18	3	4	4-18	200.0	14.0	86.5	120.5	14.0	7.0	9.0	50.0	70.0
50	240	120	160	125	100	88	20	3	4	4-18	200.0	14.0	92.0	126.0	14.0	7.0	9.0	50.0	70.0
65	260	130	180	145	120	110	22	3	4	8-18	300.0	17.0	107.0	155.0	17.0	9.0	11.0	70.0	102.0
80	280	140	195	160	135	121	22	3	4	8-18	300.0	17.0	119.0	167.0	17.0	9.0	11.0	70.0	102.0
100	320	160	230	190	160	150	24	3	4.5	8-23	400.0	22.0	150.0	214.0	22.0	–	11.0	–	102.0

Depending on your requirement, you can arrange the port of the 3-way ball valve in the three-way.

1. One inlet and two distribute
2. One inlet and one outlet with diverting a flow
3. Stright pass the fluid without No inlet

Three patterns are available in Ball Valves. Venturi port type, full port type, and reduced port type. The full-port ball valve has an inside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the pipe. This design allows pigging. In the venturi and reduced-port types, the port is generally one pipe size smaller than the line size.

Ball of the ball valve can be a free float or fixed in the valve body. A free floating ball valve is known as floating type whereas fixed type valve is known as trunnion mounted ball valve.

Ball Valve Applications

• It can be used in different types of fluid services as on-off stop valve that provides bubble-tight shutoff.
• It can be used in air, gaseous, and vapor services as well as hydrocarbon services.
• Metal seated valves can be used in high-pressure & temperature applications.
• Ball valves are widely used with instrument tubing to connect instruments.

Ball Valve Advantages

• It is Quick to open and close type that provides bubble-tight reliable sealing in high-pressure temperature applications.
• It is Smaller and lighter than gate valve of same size and rating.
• Several designs of ball valves offer the flexibility of selection so that you can choose the valve that suits your requirements.
• Easy to operate and Cost effective maintenance.

Ball Valve Disadvantages

• It cannot be used in service that required throttling.
• In slurry or other similar applications, the suspended particles can settle and become trapped in body cavities causing wear, leakage, or valve failure.
• Due to rapid opening and closing, surge pressures may arise which could damage downstream equipment.