Understanding trunnion ball valves can be confusing without the right information. These valves are essential parts of fluid control systems. They offer accurate regulation and secure sealing for industries, such as for petrochemicals, hydrocarbons, and sugar refining.
Learn about what a trunnion ball valve is in this comprehensive guide, plus:
– The functions of trunnions
– How does a trunnion valve ball work?
– Its components and materials used
– What are its applications?
– Advantages and disadvantages
– Buyers’ guide to choosing the right trunnion ball valve
Что такое шаровой кран с цапфой?
A trunnion ball valve is a quarter-turn valve crafted to provide optimal media flow control in pipelines. Unlike other variants of ball valves, this particular type is associated with a fixed ball connected to the trunnion, its shaft, hence the name, ensuring its ball is securely in place.
They stand out from the rest because of their stability, and how they can operate for a wide range of temperatures and pressures. These valves can likewise maintain sealing on both sides and simultaneously. They also require less torque, which is advantageous since this can better determine the actuator’s size and type for a valve system.
What Is the Function of Trunnion?
What is a trunnion mount? Well, trunnions are mechanical components for engineering and machinery equipment. They are usually attached to the structure or object being oscillated or rotated.
The primary function of a trunnion is to provide the most stable rotation or oscillation axis for moving parts. For instance, in the petrochemical industry, trunnions work to maintain flow control in chemical plants, refineries, and natural gas processing facilities, where precise, durable operations are essential for safety and efficiency.
How Does a Trunnion Ball Valve Work?
How trunnion ball valves work is pretty straightforward. There are three important steps in play here:
- Closed position: In this initial step, the ball’s hollow center is positioned perpendicular to the flow path, which is necessary to block the fluid’s passage.
- Opening the valve: Secondly, by rotating the handle attached to the stem, the ball rotates exactly 90 degrees. Afterward, the hollow center from earlier now aligns with the flow path, this time allowing the fluid to pass through.
- Уплотнение: A very important part of the process, the sealing ensures completion of the procedure or what trunnion ball valves are made for.
Going back, the trunnion plays a major role in the process. It absorbs the fluid’s pressure, thereby reducing the weight on the ball and seats. This ensures smooth operations and minimizes deterioration even in high-pressure industrial settings.
Components of a Trunnion Ball Valve
A trunnion ball valve consists of six essential components:
- Trunnion: Usually at the top and bottom, this part supports the ball, reduces torque, and improves stability.
- Мяч: A spherical closure typically with a central bore, managing fluid flow whenever rotated.
- Корень: Takes charge of connecting the ball to the actuator, which controls the opening and closing of the valve.
- Bearings: Responsible for minimizing friction throughout the operation, guaranteeing smoothness.
- Seats: They provide sealing between the body and the ball, which is imperative to prevent leakage.
- Тело: The housing of all those components. It must be intricately designed.
Materials Used in Trunnion Ball Valves
Aside from those components, a trunnion mounted ball valve also uses materials that play a critical role in their function and lifespan. Common materials include:
- Steel for the valve’s ball
- Polymers like polytetrafluoroethylene or metals for the seats
- Gaskets for tightness and low-emission performance
Applications of Trunnion Ball Valves
Trunnion ball valves can be used for the following industries:
Промышленность | Application |
Нефть и газ | Utilized in gas feed lines, crude oil plants, and refinery feedstock lines for efficient flow control |
Petrochemical | Trunnion ball valves direct chemical flow, guaranteeing safety and efficiency in the harshest environments |
Power Generation | Facilitate fluid control in compressors and turbines, enhancing operational quality |
Очистка воды | Manage the flow of water and chemicals for effective purification methods |
Hydrocarbon | Streamline the processing of hydrocarbons, improving reliability |
Mining | Enhance the extraction processing in mining. |
Pulp Paper Refinery | Regulate chemicals and water flow for more efficient production in pulp paper refineries |
Sugar Refining | Manage the steam and fluids essential for processes in sugar refineries |
Advantages of Trunnion Ball Valves
So, why should you use trunnion ball valves? These valves can:
- Handle significantly more intense pressures
- Ensure a safe and leak-proof closure with their ornate sealing mechanism
- Provide superior resistance against wear and tear, guaranteeing a longer lifespan
- Require low maintenance due to the simplicity of its design but with high-quality components
- Be operated quickly, essential for emergency shut-off situations
- Offer versatility as they are available in a wide array of sizing and materials
Disadvantages of Trunnion Ball Valves
However, despite those fantastic advantages, these valves can have limitations. First, due to the complexity in their design for they use high-quality materials, you will need to spend more to own a trunnion ball valve.
Second, compared to other valves like the floating ball type, they are larger and heavier, therefore necessitating more space to operate. Lastly, they may not be ideal for every application, such as for precise flow regulation applications. However, they excel in on-and-off flow control procedures.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right Trunnion Ball Valve
Weighing each of those pros and cons, choosing the right trunnion ball valve depends on the following factors:
- Where do you intend to use them?
- Does the trunnion ball valve feature a pressure rating that exceeds the maximum operating pressure in your systems?
- Is it compatible with your fluid and materials?
- Do you have enough space to set up these valves?
- Are the valves complying with industry standards and safety regulations
- Are you sourcing it out from a credible manufacturer?
ONERO’s Trunnion Ball Valve
ONERO is a leading resource for fully-functional trunnion ball valves. This company, founded in 1986, offers these valves with various sizes at 150LB to 2500LB pressure and -196~350℃ applicable temperature. They are popular for use in water, oil, and natural gas industries. You can check out their страница продукта to learn more details about their features and technical specifications.
Overall, trunnion ball valves are indispensable parts of fluid control systems, offering precision, safety, and reliability. Understanding their design, components, functionality, and advantages is paramount to choosing the right ones for your industry. Connect today with ONERO to find out what’s ideal for you.