Ball valve types and structure

Ball valve is chosen for an application based on their qualities. First, customers must choose between two primary design options: trunnion and floating ball.

Trunnion ball valve uses additional mechanisms to anchor the ball to a certain spot, where they serve larger and higher-pressure valve applications. They are costlier than floating ball valve.

Floating ball valve, uses a non-anchored ball that drifts into place or floats slightly downstream into the seat, providing a tight seal.

Another consideration customers may take into account is whether the valve is motorized, actuated, or manual.

Motorized ball valve, per their name, use a motor to open and close itself.

Actuated ball valve operate with the help of an actuator that, while sitting on top of the ball valve, supplies force and motion. Using an actuator, the valve may be controlled either automatically or manually via a remote. The handle of trunnion ball valve, which rotates the ball at a one-quarter turn, may be any three of these.

Customers may also choose between a few other types of ball valve, such as flanged ball valve, multiport ball valve, and high-pressure ball valve.

Flanged ball valve features outside edges that are raised into a flange, with holes placed in alignment with the piping system in which the valve will be placed. Flange ball valve is valued for their simplicity and the ease with which they can be installed or removed from a piping system.

Multiport ball valve, such as 3-way ball valve and 4-way ball valve, have multiple ports through which flow passes. The way that the flow comes in an inlet and exits one or more outlets is controlled by both the handle rotation and the shape of the inlet port.

Three-way ball valve usually has T or L shaped ports.

Four-way ball valve usually has two L shaped ports.

High pressure ball valve is the ball valve that is able to control both high and low flow applications with high temperature and pressure ratings, up to around 7500 psi.