Ball valve is a reliable industrial device. It is actively used for plumbing, in heating and gas systems, in the production of oil and gas.
The ball valve serves as a reliable shut-off device. Differs in convenience of a design and reliability in operation. This mechanism completely replaced the cylindrical and conical cranes. The main purpose of the ball valve is to regulate and block the movement of gas and liquid media and create complete tightness. This is an indispensable device in working with aggressive environments.
The shut-off ball valve is a valve with a shutter and a spherical surface. The main elements of its design include: a housing, a ball with a cylindrical hole, a movable spindle, a removable handle, seals for the spindle, a rod. The device has a robust construction and in any position creates a flow section of the pipeline, with a tight passage closure.
Advantages
Ball valve has its advantages:
- High tightness.
- Small dimensions.
- Increased wear resistance of the ball.
- Simplicity and convenience of design.
- High speed of overlapping flows (gas, water).
- Minimum operating costs.
- Reduced accident rate.
- Simple management process.
Scope of use
Valves are used at large and small production levels. The most popular area of use is the gas pipeline. It is very important to eliminate the possibility of gas leakage when moving it through the pipeline. The ball valve has a high tightness and is used as a reliable shut-off device in the pipeline during the transportation of natural gas. It is suitable for home networks, low pressure gas supply networks, for high pressure gas flow control.
The valve is able to effectively regulate the flow of water and viscous liquids, chemical aggressive environments and steam.
Ball valve and its varieties
Depending on the engineering features, the valves are classified into several varieties. According to the design form, the cranes are divided into:
- direct-flow;
- angular;
- mixing;
- checkpoints.
Depending on the functional features, the valves are divided into:
- locking;
- with the possibility of locking adjustment;
- special purpose valves.
Another feature for dividing mechanisms into subspecies is the functional bandwidth. Here the cranes are divided into:
- standard;
- full bore;
- incomplete passage.
To determine the bandwidth, the calculation of the cross-sectional area of the hole in the ball valve to the cross-sectional area in the cylinder.
The purpose of the ball valve determines the material of its manufacture: titanium, steel, polyethylene, cast iron, bronze.
Three types are distinguished depending on the working direction:
- Valves for opening and closing the flow in the pipe. The main requirement that they should comply with is to ensure the density in the closed state and the minimum level of resistance in the open position.
- Ball valves with the ability to adjust - serve to change the flow rate in the pipeline.
- Special Purpose Valves - to ensure high-quality operation with aggressive environments.
Features of flange valve
To fix the shut-off valve to the pipeline, use special parts. These include: welded joints, flanges, slippers and couplings. To withstand special loads, ball valves are used. The equipment is installed on pipes with a diameter of up to 50 mm. Specialized gaskets provide the valve with perfect tightness.
In most cases, a flanged ball valve is an optimal device for heating and boiler networks. Its connections are convenient in the field of repair, dismantling and replacement of a depressurized area. In this case, welding work is not required.
Actuator in flange valve control
A mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic actuator is used to adjust and control the flow of the flanged valve . The mechanical drive has equipment in the form of a steering wheel for manually opening and closing the flow. Use such a drive when compactness is required.
The pneumatic drive is used for air compression. This is the most unpretentious type of control of any transported substance, even the most aggressive. The flanged ball valve is actively used on pipes with high pressure and high temperature conditions.
The electric drive is able to fully automate flow control from the inside of the pipe. The crane is selected in accordance with the scope of production. Details in the form of teeth help to open and close the flow.
Recommendations
When purchasing a ball valve, it is important to know exactly the parameters of the coolant for which the valve is selected. It will perform the function of constipation of water, and not its adjustment. If flow control is necessary, you need to purchase a device with a servo drive. For a private house system, fittings with a coupling and a working pressure of not more than 10 Bar are enough. For a central heating system, a ball valve with a pressure of more than 20 Bar should be used, and the pressure reserve should be taken into account. Perhaps there will be water hammering.
Pay attention to the quality of the crane and do not buy low-quality goods. The products of the Chinese manufacturer are not in great demand, since the production uses fragile, susceptible to corrosion materials, which significantly reduces the valve service life.