Whether you oversee the pharmaceutical, automotive, or medical industry, among various others, fluid control is essential. This process must be ubiquitous because without it, several critical issues can arise, which lead to safety hazards, operational inefficiencies, and major financial losses.
Playing a crucial role in ensuring fluid control runs smoothly are floating ball valves. A common type of valve in industries, they are responsible for controlling the pipeline flow of your liquids and gases.
But, what really is a floating ball valve? Learn about this here, including:
– Its design
– How does a ball float valve work?
– How do floating ball valves seal?
– Important components
– Advantages and limitations
– Recommended resource for top-notch floating ball valves
What Is a Floating Ball Valve?
Pipeline fluid flow control is the primary duty of a floating ball valve. These valves are a kind of quarter-turn equipment generally consisting of a holed ball through its central part, which the fluid pressure supports against the valve’s seat.
The moment its handle is turned, its ball rotates, aligning or blocking the path of the fluid flow, depending on how you need the valve for. Such valves are used not only for controlling flow, but also for sealing and regulating it, as well as minimizing leaks and offering a tight shutoff. They work best in low-pressure environments.
Each floating ball valve typically have the following features:
- Anti-blow out stem
- Anti-static design
- Stem sealing design
- Sealant injection system
- Combination seats
- Low torque
Note that depending on where you are sourcing these valves, there may be more features added.
How Does a Ball Float Valve Work?
Floating ball valves, in their most standard design, consist of a hollow body with inlet and outlet ports. Each also has a sphere-shaped ball, a stem, and a lever that controls the ball’s positioning.
Zooming it into the metallic or stainless steel ball within the floating valve, it usually has a central hole known as the bore, which is in-charge of making fluid flow possible when it is open. However, the material of the ball may depend on its compatibility with the fluid it is handling.
However, when the bore is closed, pressure from the fluid pushes the ball against the valve’s seat, which then creates a tight seal.
The ball must be rotated at a right-angle or 90 degrees, otherwise a quarter-turn, should you wish to open the valve again. What happens thereafter is that the hole in the ball aligns with the flow path, of course, allowing the fluid to pass through.
You should likewise know that its ball is connected solely to a top stem, unlike other types of ball valves. This floating mechanism allows it to “float” within the seats, attached together in place by fluid pressure all the while the valve is closed.
How Do Floating Ball Valves Seal?
Part of how floating ball valves work is its sealing capability. Usually via soft seats that compress the ball, these valves seal, creating a vacuum that seals it at low pressure. When this valve is closed, line pressure plunges the ball into the downstream seat, creating a tight seal, otherwise referred to as the shutoff.
Preferring floating ball valves that provide a tight seal is a must, or your industry would encounter leakage and flow control will be faulty. This is helpful when handling hazardous or corrosive liquids, such as in chemical processing plants.
Key Components of a Floating Ball Valve
Completely understanding how floating valves work also requires you to comprehend its features or its key components. The most important ones are:
Valve Body
Just as your earbuds must be encased in a housing to protect them from damage, the valve also has a case or housing referred to as the valve body. It is usually made of materials such as stainless, alloy, or stainless steel, or otherwise, cast iron. The material you will choose would depend on your need.
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Meanwhile, the ball is the heart of the valve. It won’t be called such if not for this component. This ball controls the fluid flow directly. Because of this responsibility, it is typically crafted using durable metals like brass, stainless steel, or bronze that are fantastic when resisting corrosion.
Seat Rings
Seat rings are also critical parts since they are taking charge of the sealing between the valve’s ball and body. Technically speaking, they are behind the “floating” of the ball, which enables it to slightly shift under changing environments – think of pressure modifications – ensuring the sealing is tight when closed. This improves your industry’s sealing processes.
Stem and Actuation
It is this stem that connects the valve’s lever known as the actuator to its ball, transferring motion so the valve can open or close smoothly whenever needed. These components feature alloy materials with corrosion-resistant properties that guarantee reliable operations even in the harshest of surroundings.
Advantages of Floating Ball Valves
To better understand your floating ball valves in motion, get to know their advantages. Why should you choose them over other types of valves?
Cost-Effectiveness
These valves can work so well without asking you to spend or invest too much. Applicable in various industries, a floating ball valve is a popular choice among industry owners and managers who are conscious about expenses.
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Stress-free maintenance is also what these valves can guarantee. Since they have a simpler layout and not too many parts, they are easier to maintain and even to repair compared to other kinds of valves. That means lower expenditures on your end.
Tight Sealing Performance
Once more, their tight-sealing capabilities are what make them a priority among clients. This minimizes leakage, thus ensuring the most efficient flow control. This is also why they are compatible with various kinds of applications.
Low Operating Torque
Lastly, the torques of floating ball valves are not too difficult to operate. You can maneuver them easily by hand or via their all-important actuators.
Limitations of Floating Ball Valves
However, in spite of those advantages, floating ball valves cannot be perfect all the time. One of its glaring limitations is being not suitable for high-pressure and high-temperature environments, unlike related valve types, such as the trunnion-mounted variants.
Also, a floating ball valve is usually restricted to smaller pipelines. In addition, you must also handle them with care as they are more prone to cavitation damage. Their seat components are also susceptible to wear and tear due to frequent cycling and occasional design impairments.
How to Choose the Right Floating Ball Valve
Before ending this discussion, it is also vital to get familiar with tips on how to choose the right product, and guidelines on maintenance and care. Choosing the most suitable valve of this kind involves you:
- Evaluating your system’s pressure, temperature, and fluid properties and requirements.
- Determining the right valve size depending on your needs. Does the valve match your piping?
- Selecting the right material that is not only compatible with the fluid, but also your environment. This prevents damage.
- Ensuring the floating ball valve can handle the maximum pressure and temperature thresholds.
- Checking if the valves have a proven track record of the crucial sealing property. This avoids leakage.
- Deciding between manual or automated operation.
- Seeing the overall costs.
Maintenance and Care for Floating Ball Valves
Here are the four best maintenance and care tips for your floating ball valves:
- Regular inspection will prevent untimely deterioration, saving you on the costs.
- Clean them thoroughly to avoid debris buildup that may affect their performance.
- Apply lubricant to moving parts whenever necessary.
- Replace the sealing when needed as this component is of prime importance.
ONERO’s Floating Ball Valves
For floating ball valves that reign supreme on the market, value your needs, prioritize your safety, and stand the test of time, outsource them from ONERO. They focus on everything ball valves.
Established as early as in the 1980s, they have been providing over 20 highest quality and finest ball valves to its clientele, which range from the floating ball valve to the vacuum ball valve. See what else ONERO got in store for you. Reach out to their team today.
Do you want the best for your industry and business? Never compromise. Investing in the right floating ball valve does not end with just connecting with its provider. It involves a 360-degree perspective on what it is, how it works, its parts, its benefits, its limitations, and how to keep it working well to your advantage.
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