Generally, the sealing of ball valves is divided into soft sealing ball valve and hard sealing ball valve according to the ball valve seal material. The hard seal of the ball valve is the metal-to-metal seal, and the valve body and seat are all made from metal. They are used for those working under high pressure which is usually greater than 35Mpa. While the soft seal is the metal-to-nonmetal seal with nonmetal materials such as nylon and PTFE. The hard and soft sealed ball valves have the same manufacturing standard.

1. Soft Seal Ball Valves

Soft seal ball valves are that one side of the sealing is made of metal and the other side is made of flexible non-metallic materials. Soft seal ball valve has good sealing but poor resistance of high temperature, abrasion and mechanical properties.

In general, soft seal seat made of non-metallic materials has certain intensity, hardness and high temperature resistance to ensure zero leakage. Nevertheless, service life and adaption to temperature is worse than hard seal ball valve. Besides, corrosion resistance of soft seal ball valve to some corrosive medium cannot meet the technological requirements.

 

2. Hard Seal Ball Valves

Both two sides of sealing pair are made of metal materials or other materials having high hardness. Hard seal ball valves have poor sealing but high temperature resistance, abrasion resistance, and the mechanical properties are better than soft seal ball valve.

3. Differences

The ball valve seat serves for sealing the fluid inside and uniformly distributing the seating stress. In soft seat ball valve designs, either the elastomer or polymer can be used as the seal. And due to different classification standards, thcharacteristics, performance and applicable working condition can also be different.

(1) Structural Mechanism

The Soft Seal Ball Valve

The Hard Seal Ball Valve

In terms of structural mechanism, soft sealing ball valve is easy to achieve good sealing effect and resistant to corrosion, acid and alkali. And without high temperature resistance, the sealing surface being easy to wear, relatively poor mechanical performance are the defects. This kind of ball valve is used for the working condition of high sealing performance, containing corrosive medium but no particles and normal temperature and pressure.

Oppositely, the hard sealing ball valve is with high temperature resistance, wear resistance and good mechanical properties. And its has disadvantage of poor sealing performance. It is recommended to choose hard sealed ball valve like ZJCLV trunnion ball valve if the medium contains solid particles or the medium temperature is higher than 250℃.

(3) Manufacturing  Standards

From the principle point of view, the hard-sealed ball valve and the soft-sealed ball valve are the same, but because it is a seal between metals, it is necessary to consider the hardness relationship between the metals, as well as the working conditions, and what medium to go. Hardening treatment is generally required, and continuous grinding between the ball and the valve seat is required to achieve a seal. Hard-sealed ball valves have a long production cycle and complex processing. It is not easy to make hard-sealed ball valves.

(4) Usage Conditions

In terms of conditions of use, generally soft seals can reach a high level, while hard seals can be high or low according to requirements. Hard seals can generally be used at very high pressures, while soft seals cannot. Soft seals need to be fireproof, because at high temperatures, the material of the soft seal will leak, but the hard seal does not have this problem. The soft seal cannot be used in some occasions due to the problem of the flowing medium (such as some corrosive media). Finally the hard seal valve is generally more expensive than the soft seal. As for manufacturing, there is little difference between the two, mainly the difference between the valve seat, the soft seal is non-metal, and the hard seal is metal.

The above is the main difference between the soft-seal ball valve and the hard-seal ball valve. The specific purchase and use need to be determined according to the actual use. There is no difference between the advantages and disadvantages of the two.

In fact, hard seal ball valves have the same sealing principles as seal ball valves. Owing to metal-to-metal sealing, hardness between metal and metal, operating conditions and media should be taken into consideration. In general, ball valves are required to be treated by harden. Core and seat need to be grinded constantly to realize sealing.

Hard seal ball valves have long production cycle and complex processing procedures. So, it is not easy for manufacturing hard seal ball valves.

4. Selection 

Choosing hard or soft seal ball valves mainly depends on media, temperature and pressure. In general, hard seal ball valves are better to be used due to media containing solid particle or having abrasion or the temperature higher than 200 degrees centigrade. For valves having high differential pressure, torque also should be considered. Trunnion hard seal ball valves are suitable for large torque. If you need a ball valve with better sealing performance, you can also choose a double seal ball valve.

In short, valves have quite high technical content. Various aspects must be noticed. Different working conditions require different valves and sealing rings.

Use of soft and hard seal ball valve is different, mainly depends on structural, different standards to the manufacture of the valve.

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There are multiple kinds of classification of ball valves. According to assembling way of ball valve stem, they are divided into top entry ball valve and side entry ball valve. Today, we are going to talk about side entry ball valves.

1. What is a Side Entry Ball Valve?

Side entry ball valves refer to the valves that its ball enter from the side during assembling process and they are the most common type of ball valves. It usually consists of two or three parts assembled by a bolt or stud like flange connection for each part of the valve body. Usually side entry ball valves are made from forge metal. Each piece of body are forged and then assembled together. This construction will minimize a defect that causing from a casting valves. Side entry ball valves are also easy to assemble and the trim component are also easy to align.

2. Advantages of the Side Entry Ball Valve

(1) The shutoffs provide much superior ease of the operations
(2) They constantly attempt to regulate as well as preserve high pressure, high quantity, and circulation in heat.
(3) They supply sturdy construction and also a resilient service lifeline.
(4) It includes extremely low maintenance expense and they are additionally readily available at really small cost.
(5) They can function without any side lots.
(6) Ball valves allow inspections, they can fix collections and seals without removing the shutoffs body from the line.
(7) The best part of a side entry sort of valve is that it does not call for any type of kind of lubrication to work at its ideal.

3. Range of Materials

Standard body/bonnet materials include nine grades of carbon, low alloy and stainless steel, for special applications they can be supplied in other grades of ally and stainless steel, there’s a full range of trim materials to match any service optional packing and gasket materials are available for a full range of service conditions.

4. Applications of Side Entry Ball Valves

(1) Side entry ball valves are used in refineries. These valves have been used for isolation and shut-off of thermal cracking units and tower bottom lines, oil and gas separation lines, measuring of gas distribution, pressure regulation, and metering, oil loading control, compressor and pumping stations, refining units among others.

(2) The side entry ball valve is used in petrochemical and chemical complexes for controlling low differential pressure, controlling emissions, handling high viscous fluids, control the flow of abrasive slurries among others.

(3) Side entry ball valves are used in power generation. These valves are used to control boiler feed water, to control and turn off steam, among others.

(4) They are used in the production of oil and gas. Side entry ball valves are used in shut-down facilities, control of pipeline serge, and isolation of oil-head, storage, processing separation, distribution, and transmission among others.

(5) They are used in the paper and pulp industries. Side entry ball valves have been used as shut-off valves, control of liquor circulation and fill, control of lime mud, control of dilution water, control flow in mill digesters in pulp production among others.

(6) Side entry ball valves are used to control water transport.

(7) They are used in the control of solids in marine transport and the food and beverages industries.

 

The side entry ball valve is a ball valve whereby a ball is assembled from the inner part. Side entry valve is the most widely used ball valve and can be used in a wide range of fields.

 

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Plug valves and ball valves are technically the same valves because they perform the same functions and have similar features. And they both have a wide range of uses. But what are the differences between a plug valve and a ball valve? Let’s start with a fundamental understanding of what plug and ball valve are.

What are Ball & Plug Valves?

(1) Plug Valves

Shaped like a cone or cylinder, a plug valve uses a rotating plug inside the body of a valve to control fluid flow (see the image above). These types of valves have one or more horizontal passageways to allow flow through the valve when open. Plug valves are often used to move liquids or gases, but rarely if ever used to move solids. They typically have two ports but can also have three or more depending on the application.

(2) Ball Valves

The ball valve is a valve that uses a ball with a circular channel as the opening and closing part, and the ball rotates with the valve stem to realize the opening and closing action. The opening and closing part of the ball valve is a ball with a hole, which rotates around the axis perpendicular to the channel, so as to achieve the purpose of opening and closing the channel. Ball valves are mainly used to open and close pipelines and equipment media.

The ball valve is evolved from the plug valve. It has the same 90 degree rotation lifting action, the difference is that the cock body is a sphere with a circular through hole or channel through its axis. The ratio of the spherical surface to the channel opening should be such that when the ball rotates 90 degrees, all spherical surfaces should appear at the inlet and outlet, thereby truncating the flow. The ball valve can be closed tightly with only a 90-degree rotation operation and a small torque. The completely equal body cavity of the valve body provides a low-resistance, straight-through flow path for the medium.

It is generally believed that the ball valve is most suitable for direct opening and closing, but recent developments have designed the ball valve so that it can be used for throttling and flow control. The main features of the ball valve are its compact structure, easy operation and maintenance, suitable for general working media such as water, solvent, acid and natural gas, and also suitable for media with harsh working conditions, such as oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, methane and ethylene. The ball valve body can be integral or combined.

Differences Between Ball and Plug Valves

In terms of basic function and use, ball and plug valves are extremely similar. Both are control valves that are utilized in various piping units to produce tight shut-offs. They all operate on the same basic premise, with a perforated disc controlling the flow of the medium. They do, however, differ in a number of ways.

Here are some of the key distinctions between ball valves and plug valves:

(1) Construction

Plug Valve

Ball Valve

Bored discs are found at the center of both ball and plug valves. A ball valve has a hollow center and a spherical disc. A conical or cylindrical disc with drilled openings runs through a plug valve. In a ball valve, the disc or ball is smaller than the disc or plug in a plug valve. A plug valve can give a tighter shut-off than a ball valve because of this. In comparison to a ball valve, plug valves are also smaller. Plug valves can be easily placed in smaller units due to their lower footprint.

(2) Working Principle

The plug valve gave way to the ball valve. They both rotate at 90 degrees, but the “plug” is either a plug or a ball with a circular through hole or channel going through its axis. The ball and ports should look like this: the sphere will appear as a sphere at the intake and outlet when rotated by 90 degrees, cutting off the flow. The port of the ball valve can not only be circular, but also V-shaped (v port ball valve) and T-shaped (t port ball valve). The upper sections of the plug valve, the conical plug, and the conical pressure-formed body surface, are sealed with packing between the plug and the space between the body. Because it normally does not have bonnets and instead has the handle exposed outdoors at the end, plug valves are simple and often cost-effective.

(3) Applications

In terms of cutting performance, plug valves outperform ball valves. However, this isn’t readily apparent. The plug valve’s sealing surface is substantially larger than the ball valve’s and provides a superior sealing effect but at the cost of greater torque and a smaller diameter. To reduce medium erosion and valve tightening over time, the ball valve should be used for switching pipeline medium rather than as a throttle valve.

With the advancement of sealing technology, the sealing effect of the ball valve has greatly improved. So we can say that the plug valve is used when the sealing requirements are stringent but the diameter is small, and the ball valve is used when the sealing effect is not stringent but the diameter is large.

(4) Plug Valve Is Lower Cost

The bushing entirely covers the “plug” on the plug valve, preventing wear on the valve body and plug. The valve may be repaired and updated by replacing the bushing and top seal, which can meet the long-term service requirements of 300°C. This temperature range provides significant advantages over alternative hard-sealed metal ball valves.

(5) Function

Ball and plug valves are control valves that are used to start and stop the flow of the medium. The sealing surface of the plug valve is much larger than that of a ball valve. The cylindrical or conical plug in the valve has a larger surface area so it can provide a better seal. However, a larger surface area also translates to greater torque. The high torque makes the valve inflexible and difficult to operate.

Ball valves, on the other hand, provide torque-free operation. The smaller surface area can lead to low sealing performance but new advancements in chemical sealants and seal injections mean ball valves can easily overcome this problem. Ball valves are less heavy than plug valves. Since plug valves feature a solid disc or plug in the center that is larger in size, it is heavier as well. This is the reason why plug valves are usually used in smaller applications as large-sized plug valves are expensive to make and can get really heavy.

(6) Maintenance

Control valves need regular maintenance to keep working effectively. Ball valves are difficult to maintain as the ball or disc is located deep inside the valve and cannot be easily accessed. In fact, one of the main criticisms of ball valves is that over time, the body cavity of the valve accumulates particles from the medium that is then difficult to remove. Plug valves are easier to maintain as the plug can be easily removed and cleaned. This also gives easy access to the rest of the valve body so it can be maintained without much hassle. Plug valves have a simpler construction, they don’t have a lot of moving parts. They are also smaller in size than most regular valves. This makes it easier to repair and maintain.

(7) Control Capability

Ball valves can be controlled using manual, electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, and many other kinds of actuators. They are easy to open and close and require very little force even when operating under high-pressure conditions. Plug valves can be operated using manual and electric actuators. They can be operated through pneumatic actuators as well but they are very expensive to install. Plug valves can be difficult to open and close in high-pressure operations due to the high amount of torque. This is the reason why plug valves are usually not used for larger applications.

Control valves such as ball and plug valves are utilized to provide bubble-tight seals in a variety of applications. Plug valves seal better, but they’re difficult to use and too expensive and heavy for large-scale applications. Ball valves may not have the best sealing capabilities, but they are simple to operate and scale up for bigger applications.

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Actuators serve the general purpose of controlling movements within machines. However, there are various kinds of actuators that produce varying motions and use different power sources. And this article covers five common types of actuators and their applications with examples.

Types of Actuators

1.  Manual

A manual actuator employs levers, gears, or wheels to move the valve stem with a certain action. Manual actuators are powered by hand.

The main advantages of manual actuators are inexpensive, typically self-contained, and easy to operate by humans.

The main disadvantages is that some large size ball valves are impossible to operate manually and some valves may be located in remote, toxic, or hostile environments that prevent manual operations in some conditions. As a safety feature, certain types of situations may require quicker operation than manual actuators can provide to close the valve.

 

2. Pneumatic

Air (or other gas) pressure is the power source for pneumatic valve actuators. They are used on linear or quarter-turn valves. Air pressure acts on a piston or bellows diaphragm creating linear force on a valve stem. Alternatively, a quarter-turn vane-type actuator produces torque to provide rotary motion to operate a quarter-turn valve. A pneumatic actuator may be arranged to be spring-closed or spring-opened, with air pressure overcoming the spring to provide movement.

Advantage:

(1) Most of the actuators used in industrial control occasions are pneumatic actuators, because it is more economical to use air source as power than electric and hydraulic, and the structure is simple, easy to master and maintain. From the point of view of maintenance, pneumatic actuators are easier to operate and calibrate than other types of actuators, and the front and back can be easily interchanged on the spot.

(2) From the point of view of maintenance, pneumatic actuators are easier to operate and calibrate than other types of actuators, and the front and back can be easily interchanged on site.

(3) Its biggest advantage is safety. When using the positioner, it is ideal for flammable and explosive environments, and if the electrical signal is not explosion-proof or intrinsically safe, there is a potential fire hazard due to ignition.

Disadvantage:

Slow response, poor control accuracy, and poor anti-deviation ability, which is due to the compressibility of gas, which is the need for air to fill the cylinder and empty it when using a large pneumatic actuator.

 

3. Hydraulic

Hydraulic actuators convert fluid pressure into motion. Similar to pneumatic actuators, they are used on linear or quarter-turn valves. Fluid pressure acting on a piston provides linear thrust for gate or globe valves. A quarter-turn actuator produces torque to provide rotary motion to operate a quarter-turn valve.

The main advantages of Most types of hydraulic actuators can be supplied with fail-safe features to close or open a valve under emergency circumstances. Hydraulic pressure can be supplied by a self-contained hydraulic pressure pump. In some applications, such as water pumping stations, the process fluid can provide hydraulic pressure, although the actuators must use materials compatible with the fluid.

The main disadvantages is that Hydraulic actuators are expensive, bulky, complex and requires special engineering, so most of them are used in some special occasions such as power plants and petrochemicals.

 

4. Electric

Electric valve actuator mounted on a pressure reducing needle valve. The electric actuator uses an electric motor to provide torque to operate a valve. They are quiet, non-toxic and energy efficient. However, electricity must be available, which is not always the case, they can also operate on batteries.

Main applications of electric actuators:

(1) Power Plant. (2) Process control. (3) Industrial automation.

The main advantages of electric actuators are a high degree of stability and the output thrust or torque is basically constant. It can well overcome the unbalanced force of the medium and achieve accurate control of the process parameters, so the control accuracy is higher than that of pneumatic actuators.

The main disadvantage is that the structure of the electric actuators are more complex and more prone to failure. Due to its complexity, the technical requirements for field maintenance personnel are relatively higher.

 

5. Spring

Spring-based actuators hold back a spring. Once any anomaly is detected, or power is lost, the spring is released, operating the valve.

The main advantages of they don’t require a powerful electric supply to move the valve, so they can operate from restricted battery power, or automatically when all power has been lost.

The main disadvantage is that they can only operate once, without resetting, and so are used for one-use purposes such as emergencies.

When we use API 6D to design ball valves, the most important part is to design the valve seat. Different valve seat will have valve perform different functions. In API 6D we have two different types of valve seats called as Single Piston Effect (SPE) and Double Piston Effect (DPE) seats. Using these two kinds of valve seats, we can come up with two different functions from the ball valves commonly called Double Block and Bleed (DBB) and Double Isolation and Bleed (DIB).

DBB Ball Valve

The double block and bleed ball valve (DBB ball valve) is made up of two ordinary ball valves linked by a common inlet end. The double block and bleed ball valve is a product intended to substitute several connections between conventional valve. The distinction between DBB ball valve and the conventional one is that it can effectively overcome leakage that happens during system operation, and it can be closed quickly and discharge easily. This DBB ball valve is a modern form of valve that is commonly used on the market today.

DBB is defined by API 6D as a “single valve with two seating surfaces that, in the closed position, provides a seal against pressure from both ends of the valve with a means of venting/bleeding the cavity between the seating surfaces.” When just one side is under pressure, this valve does not have positive double isolation.1.  DBB Explained

And OSHA defines DBB as “the closure of a line, duct, or pipe by closing and locking or tagging two inline valves and by opening and locking or tagging a drain or vent valve in the line between the two closed valves”.

2. Classification

(1) Spilt Body DBB Ball Valve

Modular or Split Body Type DBB ball valve – The main feature of this design is that it has two balls in one valve to ensure greater safety. A drain needle valve is located between the two balls on the Double Block & Bleed valve. This allows the valve to be drained and the pressure to be reset to zero. Instrumentation and piping all benefit from the modular form, three-piece body construction. Instrumentation valves range in size from 1 inch to 3 inches; piping valves range in size from 1 inch to 24 inches. API 3.000 to API 10.000 in all pressure class scores from 150 to 2500 lbs.

(2) Integral Body DBB Ball Valve

Integral DBB ball valves – These valves are used in the instrumentation industry and come in a variety of designs to meet a variety of needs, including flange to flange, flange to the thread, injection, and sampling, and ball and needle types. A drain needle valve is located between the two balls on the Integral Double Block & Bleed ball valve. This allows the valve to be drained and the pressure to be reset to zero.

3.Benefits of DBB ball valve

Double Block and Bleed Ball valves have been developed to substitute the process of bolting the individual valves together to provide dual insulation.

This new model provides excellent savings in weight, space, and installation time, particularly for insulation in the instrument or instrument cage. These weight savings will amount to up to 60% and tests have shown that a time savings of 70% on installation is also possible. The biggest benefits must be seen, however, in reducing the leakage pathways into the environment, thus reducing the possibility of possible dangers.

DIB Ball Valve

1. DIB Explained

DIB Ball Valve provides a seal against pressure from a single source, with a means of venting/bleeding the cavity between the sealing surfaces.

DIB means double isolation and bleed. Single ball valve with two seating surfaces, with two sealing surfaces, each of which, in the closed position, provides a seal against pressure from a single source, with a means of venting/bleeding the cavity between the sealing surfaces. This feature can be provided in one direction or in both directions.DIB ball valve definition in API 6D:

2. Classification:

(1) DIB-1 Ball Valve

Double Piston Seat x Double Piston Seat

For the DIB Double Piston x Double Piston (DIB-1)configuration, over pressurization of cavity is external with a safety valve.

Characteristics:

①Upstream and downstream sealing. ②Pressure energized. ③Two seats are bidirectional sealing seats.

Advantage:

Each seat can isolate the fluid from upstream and downstream, if one seat is damaged, the other seat still work to ensure the sealing performance.

(2) DIB-2 Ball Valve

DPE Seat x Self Relieving Seat

For the DIB Self relieving x double piston (DIB-2) configuration, cavity over pressurization is internally controlled within the line.

Upstream and downstream sealing; pressure energized; one seat is bidirectional seat and one seat is unidirectional sealing seat.

For DIB-2 Ball Valve,  the fluid can be relieved from one seat to downstream side.

Advantage:

Self-relieving seat, no need to assembly the safety valve for pressure relieving.

Both DIB-1 and DIB-2 are for trunnion mounted ball valve structure.

Difference:

The double block and bleed valve protects against pressure from either side of the valve while the double isolation and bleed valve offers additional seal against pressure from just one side. It is necessary to use the DIB ball valve instead of the DBB ball valve in applications requiring an external pressure barrier to be sealed separately from the main pressure barrier. This is critical to meet such operational safety standards or depending on the type of the operation, such as low leakage tolerance of fluid cleanliness.

There are normally two unidirectional self-relieving seats with a DBB ball valve. These seats do not depend on an external pressure relief system. On the other hand, the DIB ball valve uses one or two bi-directional seats. The valve allows dual isolation from the pressure at both ends of the valve, but cannot ease the pressure of the body cavity past the seats. DIB ball valves need an external relief mechanism to ease the build-up of pressure.

Both valves could protect in both the upstream and downstream directions, even in high-pressure or high-temperature conditions. Isolation is critical in situations where leakage through the valve can have significant implications. Once the fluid is sealed, the bleed system may drain the area between the two valves or two seating surfaces. This is critical for maintenance and integrity checks in cases where leakage can be tracked.

Conclusion

The main advantage of DBB ball valve is that it has self-relieving seats. However, if the upstream seat leak, the downstream seat will not provide isolation. While the main benefit of the DIB is that even if the upstream seat leak, the second seat will provide the seal and the valve will not leak. It should be noted that DIB ball valve should have body cavity relief valves.

If we combine positive features of both DIB-1 and DBB ball valve, then we should use DIB-2 valve that has one SPE seat at the upstream and DPE seat at the downstream. If the upstream seat leak in DIB-2, then the cavity pressure can relieve on the upstream side and the downstream seat will provide isolation due to double piston effect.

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Table of Contents

1.Body (1)Valve body construction type (2)Ball valve body stypes (3)Body end connections 2. Bonnet  (1)Ball valve stem (2)Ball valve stem (3)Ball valve packing gland 3.O-ring  4.Seat (1) Peek Ball Valve Seat (2) PTFE Ball Valve Seat 5.Ball (1) Floating Ball (2) Trunnion Mounted Ball 6.Bore (1)Reduced Bore (2)Full Bore (3)V-shaped Bore 7.Actuator  (1) Manual control (2) Pneumatic Ball Valve Actuator (3) Electric Ball Valve Actuator (4) Hydraulic Ball Valve Actuator 8.Question

4. Seat

Discs lie in between the body and the ball. Seats provide a seal between the two and support the ball.

For ball valves, suitable ball valve seat materials can be selected according to different working environments.

(1) Peek Ball Valve Seat

It is a high temperature resistant thermoplastic and can be used for a long time at 250°C. Compared with other high temperature resistant plastics such as ZJCLV, etc., the upper limit of the operating temperature is nearly 50°C higher, and PEEK resin is not heat resistant. Compared with other high temperature resistant plastics, the cloth mesh has high strength, high modulus, high fracture toughness and excellent dimensional stability.

(2) PTFE Ball Valve Seat

a. PTFE is an engineering plastic with excellent comprehensive properties, known as the king of plastics.

With excellent chemical stability, even at high temperature and concentrated acid, concentrated alkali or strong oxidant, it does not work. And boiled in concentrated sulfuric acid, concentrated nitric acid, hydrochloric acid or even in aqua regia, it’s weight and performance also are unchanged.

b. It has high heat resistance and cold resistance.

c. It has a very low coefficient of friction and is a good self-lubricating material.

d. It has excellent water resistance, does not absorb water at all, and has good weather resistance and anti-aging properties.

5. Ball

The ball is designed with a center bore (hole)where the media flows through. The direction of the ball is controlled by turning the stem.They are usually made of stainless steel, PVC, chrome plated steel or chrome plated brass. The ball design is categorized as floating or trunnion based on their design and support.

(1) Floating Ball design

The valve seats provide support to the ball to accommodate for different temperature applications. This is the most commonly used ball design.

(2) Trunnion Mounted Ball design

The ball is supported on the bottom and top to reduce load on the valve seats. This design is used in high quality valves to provide reliable sealing in both high and low-pressure applications.

6. Bore

(1) Reduced Bore

The bore size of these valves is smaller than the diameter of the inlet/outlet connections. Thus, there is a friction loss in the system. However, the losses are still small in comparison to other valves. Most ball valves use a reduced bore design.

(2) Full Bore

A full bore design is also called a full port design. The bore size of these valves is the same size as the diameter of the pipe. Thus, there is no extra friction loss and they are also easy to clean. However, due to its larger diameter, the cost is slightly higher and not required for most application, for which standard reduced bore is sufficient.

(3) V-shaped Bore

The bore in these valves have a V-shaped profile. Thus, a precise flow rate can be achieved by rotating the ball. A linear flow can be achieved by optimizing the profile of the V-shaped bore.

7. Actuator

Although most small ball valves can use handwheels, large ball valves or some other dangerous working environments are not suitable for this method. So there are also other ball valve actuators.

(1) Manual Control

These are designed with handles or levers that must be controlled by an operator. This option is not intended for high-cycle applications.

(2) Pneumatic Ball Valve Actuator

Pneumatic ball valves require compressed air as a power source. This option is best for applications that require high durability and fast cycling times.

(3) Electric Ball Valve Actuator

Applications without access to compressed air rely on electric ball valve actuators, which are also known as motorized ball valves. This option is best for low cycle speeds.

(4) Hydraulic Ball Valve Actuator

Hydraulic actuators are similar to pneumatic, but use pressurized fluid (water or oil) instead of air. This option provides more torque output than others.

8. Question

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Brass and stainless steel are main metal ball valves. Brass is a copper alloy with a mixture of copper and zinc, and occasionally other metals. And stainless steel is an iron alloy mixed with chromium and nickel. Though more expensive than brass, steel is durable and resilient. Steel tends to last longe and is also able to work in higher temperature. Both stainless steel ball valve and brass ball valve are corrosion resistant, while stainless steel ball valves are the best options for high pressure and high temperature.

1. What are Brass Ball Valves?

Brass ball valves are some of the most common types that you will utilize in plumbing, water well and so on.They are fairly easy to work with and install, with good corrosion resistance. As a material, brass is softer than others to make sealing them easier. When sealing other types of metals, you often need a specific pipe tape or thread sealant, but you are more apt to find brass sealing products easier than others. What’s more, brass ball valves are divided into three way brass ball valve, forged brass ball valve and so on.

Three Way Brass Ball Valve

Forged Brass Ball Valve

Pros:

Brass solenoid valves are usually an excellent choice for many plumbing systems. They’re available in two main forms, leaded and no-lead options. Of course, you’ll want to choose the no-lead option if you’re working on a system for drinking water.

The main benefit of brass valves is that they are a cost effective option. Despite the lower price, they aren’t necessarily inferior to the alternatives in most situations.

Cons:

Brass is more susceptible to corrosion than stainless steel. It is not recommended for use in environments that can cause the valve to break down, such as in salt water.

Perhaps the biggest con for brass valves is that even some no-lead options carry a low risk of lead contamination if they succumb to corrosion. Of course, this isn’t a big deal if your brass valve isn’t part of a system you’ve built for drinking water. On the other hand, this may make people repairing or renovating their plumbing for potable water think twice. Note that brass’s possible lead release is directly related to its zinc content. The more zinc the valve contains, the more lead it might release.

 

2. What are Stainless Steel Ball Valves?

The stainless steel ball valve can be closed tightly with only a 90-degree rotation and a small torque. The completely equal internal cavity of the valve provides a straight flow channel with little resistance for the medium. The main feature of the ball valve is its compact structure, easy to operate and maintain. The stainless steel ball valve can be used to control the flow of various types of fluids such as air, water, steam, various corrosive media, mud, oil, liquid metal, and radioactive media. The ball valve body can be integral or combined. This type of valve should generally be installed horizontally in the pipeline. The two most commonly stainless steel ball valves are 304 stainless steel ball valve and 316 stainless steel ball valve.

Pros:

Stainless steel is famously durable, so there should be no doubt in your mind that it wins over brass valves in this category. Stainless steel valves also take the cake in terms of pressure ratings and temperature tolerance, outperforming other popular metals like: Brass  Cast iron  Copper Ductile iron

It’s also very well-known as a highly corrosion-resistant material, making it the strongly preferred alternative for marine water and commercial brewing systems (stainless steel ball valves are especially preferred).

Relatively low maintenance costs

Maintaining substances’ purity that comes into contact with the stainless steel component

FDA-approved

Cons:

There are really not many drawbacks to discuss for stainless steel valves. They are some of the best options for residential and commercial applications and offer great versatility as well. Perhaps the most apparent difference between stainless steel and brass valves is that the former are typically available at higher price points, making cost its primary disadvantage.

Additionally, stainless steel valves do tend to be slightly heavier than other materials. If weight is a critical factor in your project, you’ll need to be very careful about your calculations.

3. Difference between Brass Ball Valves & Stainless Steel Ball Valves

(1) Material: The brass ball valve is a copper alloy with copper and zinc occasionally mixed with other metals, while the stainless steel ball valve is an iron alloy of chromium and nickel.

(2) Cost: When the No-Lead laws started coming into effect in many states and Provinces in North America, No-Lead Brass grew in popularity and the rise of No-Lead Brass pricing. The price of stainless steel ball valves is higher than that of leaded brass ball valves, but the price of lead-free brass ball valves is not much different. It is a good option of using No-Lead brass ball valves on non-potable water applications and this can save you a lot of money.

(3) FDA Approval: The FDA does not approve of brass ball valves unless they are certified lead-free, making them a poor choice for use in the food industry. Stainless steel ball valves, however, are approved by the FDA for use in the food industry.

(4) Softness: Brass is softer than stainless steel, which makes it easier to seal brass ball valves than stainless steel ball valves. And products for sealing brass ball valves are easier to obtain than products for sealing stainless steel ball valves. Because of its chemical makeup, brass is much better for welding than stainless steel. In order to use stainless steel for welding, you must often break down its oxide layer.

(5) Corrosion Resistance: Brass is able to withstand corrosion better than plastic. However, stainless steel is still the best in the corrosion resistance department, especially in marine environments. Stainless steel ball valves will hold up much better in a harsher water environment, and this will ensure a longer-lasting valve.

(6) Pressure Ratings: Generally speaking, stainless steel ball valves have higher pressure ratings than brass. For example, a standard brass ball valve might have a pressure rating of 600 PSI on a 1” model. A standard stainless ball valve would probably have a pressure rating of 1000 PSI on a 1” model. Therefore, stainless steel ball valves are more resistant to high pressure than brass ball valves.

(7) High-Temperature Resistance: Steel is also able to work in more temperatures than brass and tends to last longer. Stainless steel ball valves are the best options for high-temperature situations.

Brass and stainless steel valves are both excellent choices of material for your plumbing job. Yet, they each perform well in varying conditions.

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What is Stainless Steel?

Stainless Steel (SS) is the name given to a group of Iron based alloys that contain at least 10.5% chromium. It is versatile and durable and has good resistance to oxidation and corrosion.

 

Stainless Steel 304& Stainless Steel 316

The two most common stainless steel grades are 304 and 316.

 

See the major difference in the chemical composition below:

SS-304 18% Chromium 8% Nickel

 

SS-316 16% Chromium 10% Nickel 2% Molybdenum (For added corrosion resistance to chlorides, like sea water.)

The major difference in the applications

304 is the most common of the 300 series and has excellent resistance to corrosion in most applications.
316 is more resistant to sulfuric acid and sulfurous acids, acetic acid, iodides, bromides, chlorides, and also fatty acids at higher temperatures.

Is 316 more expensive than 304?

Generally, 316 stainless steel is higher in price versus 304 stainless steel. This is due to the higher levels of nickel content contained within 316, as well as the presence of molybdenum.

This is a prime example of how the price of stainless steel grades can fluctuate based on the ebb and flow of the raw material cost. To help offset these fluctuations, surcharges are added to the base price, typically per pound and varied by the mill.

Check out the table below for a daily update on the price of these commodities, as well as those impacting other metals. Ryerson updates this table daily.

 

304 Stainless Steel Ball Valve

Ss 304 valve, with its chromium-nickel substance and low carbon, is the most flexible and broadly utilized of the austenitic stainless steels. Its compounds are all adjustments of the 18% chromium, 8% nickel composite. Sort 304 turns out to be impervious to oxidation, consumption, and toughness. All give simplicity of creation and cleaning, avoidance of item tainting offer an assortment of completions and appearances. Sort 304 stainless steels are utilized within ventilation systems, stainless fittings, stockpiling tanks, weight vessels and funneling.

 

316 Stainless Steel Ball Valve

Ss 316  valves is an authenticate chromium-nickel stainless and high temperature opposing steel with better consumption safety as looked at than other chromium-nickel steels when presented to numerous sorts of concoction erosion bringing on components, for example, ocean water, saline solution results, and so forth. Since Type 316 stainless steel amalgam holds molybdenum bearing it has a more prominent imperviousness to concoction assault than 304. Sort 316 is strong, simple to-create, clean, weld and completion. It is extensively more impervious to results of sulphuric corrosive, chlorides, bromides, iodides and unsaturated fats at high temperature.

 

While you can use Ss 304 vs 316, the Ss 316 parts are made to last longer in adverse conditions. Staineless Steel 304 parts cost less, but may have a shorter lifespan in some conditions.