Flanged Ball Valve

A flanged ball valve is a type of valve used to control the flow of fluid liquid or gas through a pipeline It derives its name from the spherical closure element inside the valve known as the ball Here are the key features and aspects of a flanged ball valve

1 Flanged Ends Similar to the flanged gate valve a flanged ball valve has flanges on both ends These flanges are designed to be bolted to the flanges of the pipeline providing a secure connection

2 Ball Mechanism The core component of the flanged ball valve is the spherical ball with a hole port through its center The ball is positioned inside the valve body and is connected to the valve stem which is usually operated by a handle or actuator

3 QuarterTurn Operation One of the distinctive features of a ball valve is its quarterturn operation Turning the handle or actuator by 90 degrees rotates the ball inside the valve either opening or closing the flow passage This makes ball valves quick to operate compared to gate valves

4 Full Bore or Reduced Bore Flanged ball valves are available in full bore and reduced bore designs In a full bore ball valve the ball has a larger diameter than the pipeline providing minimal flow restriction when fully open In a reduced bore ball valve the balls diameter is slightly smaller than the pipeline which reduces the flow capacity but also reduces the valve size and cost

5 BiDirectional Flow Like gate valves flanged ball valves typically allow flow in both directions making them versatile for various applications

6 Sealing Flanged ball valves provide reliable sealing when closed thanks to the tight fit between the ball and the valve seat This ensures minimal leakage and effective flow control

7 Manual and Automated Operation Flanged ball valves can be operated manually using a handle or automatically using an actuator electric pneumatic or hydraulic This flexibility allows for remote or automated control of the valve

8 Applications They are widely used in industries such as oil and gas chemical processing water and wastewater treatment HVAC systems and more Their versatility ease of operation and ability to provide tight shutoff make them suitable for both onoff and throttling applications

9 Materials Flanged ball valves are available in various materials to suit different operating conditions including stainless steel carbon steel brass bronze and special alloys The material selection depends on factors such as fluid compatibility pressure temperature and corrosion resistance requirements

Overall flanged ball valves are popular due to their robust construction reliable performance ease of operation and suitability for a wide range of industrial applications where reliable flow control is essential