Top 6 Steps To Select The Right Ball Valve for Your Industry

What is a ball valve?

Ball valves are a versatile and essential component in a fluid conveyance system.They allow for a line to be completely shut off from the flow of a fluid so maintenance can easily be performed.Due to the reliable,tight seal created by the rotary ball,ball valves are the ideal valve of choice for liquid and gas conveyance lines.By selecting the right body material and seals,ball valves can be used in a multitude of applications,ranging from diesel fuel to compressed air.Ball valves are available in a range of sizes and materials, including brass,stainless steel, and plastic,to suit different applications and fluid types.Some ball valves also have features such as seals or coatings to make them more resistant to corrosion or wear.

How to Choose the Best Ball Valve for Your Industrial Application

Choosing the proper components for your industrial fluid systems is critical to ensuring they function as intended.One of the most important components to consider are the valves,which give operators the ability to control system fluid flow in ways that are most appropriate for the application’s needs.When selecting a ball valve for your application, it is important to consider these six factors:

1. Body material

Stainless steel:Stainless steel is a popular material for ball valve balls because it is corrosion-resistant and durable.It is commonly used in applications involving water,oil,and gas,and can be used with a wide range of temperatures and pressures.

Brass:Brass is another common material used for ball valve balls because it is strong and corrosion-resistant.It is commonly used in applications involving water and gas,and can be used with a range of temperatures and pressures.

Plastic:Plastic is a lightweight and corrosion-resistant material that is often used for ball valve balls in low-pressure and low-temperature applications.Common types of plastic used for ball valve balls include PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene).

Carbon steel:Carbon steel is a strong and durable material that is often used for ball valve balls in high-pressure and high-temperature applications.It is commonly used in the oil and gas industry and can handle a wide range of temperatures and pressures.

Other materials:In addition to the materials listed above,ball valve balls can also be made from other materials such as aluminum,bronze,and titanium.These materials may be used in specific applications where their unique properties are required.

2. Configuration

Selecting the correct valve configuration ensures proper hose, tube and pipe routing for optimal flow in your application.In addition to the standard in-line ball valve,we offers special configurations. Understanding where the ball valve is going to be used in your application determines what configuration you will need. We offer the following shapes:

3-Way Ball Valves

Cryogenic Ball Valves

Double Block&Bleed Ball Valves

Floating Ball Valves

Fully Welded Ball Valves

Trunnion Ball Valves

V-Port Ball Valves

3. Port connection 

To determine the required port connection, it is best to investigate your application and understand if the valve will connect to a hose,tube,or directly into a piece of machinery or component. our company offers the following connection types: (Some options may be dependent on body material)

BSPP female/male threads

Beaded hose barb

NPT female/male threads

O-ring face seal

Push-to-connect

Solder end

Straight thread o-ring

4. Seals

For a ball valve to provide a leak-free connection, a seal is required. The type of seal is dependent on the type of fluid being conveyed through the ball valve. WKT’s valves have standard options for seals, but these can be customized to fit your application.We offer the following seals:

EPDM

FKM

Fluorocarbon

Nitrile

5. Handle

Even the handle can be customized on Parker ball valves.The choice of handle is dictated by two factors: 1. The space available to turn the handle, 2. Personal preference.Our ball valves are offered with the following handle options:

Lever

Gear Box

6. Venting

The last consideration when selecting a ball valve is if the valve needs to be vented. We offer both vented and non-vented options on most standard ball valves. When selecting a vented option, it is important to understand your application.We suggest only using vented ball valves on compressed air systems to allow venting of downstream pressure in a closed position.Using a vented ball valve on a fuel or oil line will result in costly leaks.

Ball valves are widely used in different applications by various industries.So, it is not surprising if you are very meticulous in checking the quality and performance of these ball valves.Finally,If you are looking for reputed ball valve manufacturers,contact us and we serves you the best ball valve balls for your industrial use.