Ball Valves for Industrial Applications

Large industrial ball valve
(courtesy of MOGAS)

Perhaps the most universally used type of valve, ball valves come in a wide variety of sizes, materials, pressure classification, port configurations and end connections. They are applied in a multitude of industrial applications, and in every industry from chemical processing, to pulp and paper to food processing to bio-research.

A ball valve belongs to the quarter-turn family of valves, which means its rotational motion is 90 degrees to fully open of close the valve, allowing or stopping flow. Flow through the valve is accommodated by a sphere, or ball, with a hole through it. The ball is sandwiched between two seating rings, usually made of teflon or other elastomer. When the hole in the ball has its axis parallel to the valve ports, you have flow, when the hole is perpendicular, the flow is stopped.