In any type of piping system where the flow of the media has to be controlled, a ball valve may be the right option. These are a simple type of valve, but they are highly durable and provide a complete seal to shut off the flow or open the flow.
Styles, Options, and Configurations
The basic design of a 2-way ball valve is a single inlet and single outlet port. In between these two is a ball with a hole drilled through the middle that is is the same size as the inlet and outlet port. This is connected to an external lever, which turns a quarter turn to either open or close the opening of the ball. These valves can also be automated on systems and work without the need for manual control.
There are also options in the configuration and operation of the ball valve. There are three and four-way ball valves, which are used to direct the flow of the media from the inlet port into one of two or more outlet ports. The configurations are known as a T or L shape, with the four-way ball valves typically known as multi-port ball valves.
Materials to Consider
Working with experienced ball valve suppliers in your industry is always a benefit. These companies higher sales representatives that not only know the manufacturer’s specifications for the valve’s use, but they also understand the industry.
Based on the type of systems and the media, the ball valves can be designed out of a variety of materials. For industrial types of valves, stainless steel, brass or bronze are common options. There are also those valves for specialized applications that may be made of titanium or other exotic metals, and they can also be made of PVC or CPVC, which is ideal as a low-cost, lightweight option. The best ball valve suppliers and distributors offer a full range of options or can order in specialized valves for any given application.
After choosing the material for the body, the ball valve suppliers can make recommendations for the materials for the seals and the seats. Materials like Teflon, PEEK, Nylon and or other non-stick, low friction types of coatings are often the best choice when performance is a factor with corrosive or challenging types of media.
