China Ball Valve

Youyi Machinery is a ball valve manufacturer, which has been a manufacturer and supplier of industrial ball valves in China.

We insist on manufacturing high-quality ball valves for our customers and specialize in manufacturing and supplying a wide range of valves for applications in oil and gas, chemical, petrochemical, food, beverage and refining industries, and offer competitive ball valves prices to our customers.

Ball valves

Ball valves play a vital role in daily life as they are used every day, for example in bicycles or cars, jet planes or any industry.

Ball valves are more effective at forming tight seals and offer higher reliability and service life than gate valves, but tend to be more expensive. They are typically used in shut-off and control applications. Because ball valves can be opened and closed immediately, they are more prone to water hammers than gate valves.

Our ball valve products are durable, perform well after many cycles, are reliable, and close securely even after long periods of non-use. These qualities make ball valves an excellent choice for shut-off applications where they are typically superior to gate and globe valves, but where they lack fine control in throttling applications.

For more information on ball valves, you can always contact us.

Ball valves are part of the quarter turn on/off valve range. This means that a 90 degree turn allows or stops the flow of media using the ball mechanism inside the valve. Ease of operation is the main advantage of the ball valve. In industrial applications, this is a very reliable device for complete and tight shut-off.
However, this type should not regulate the flowing medium in a partially open or closed manner. Pressure may affect certain valve components.

What are ball valves used for?

Almost all industrial applications need to be leak-proof. This is particularly important for those requiring a tight shut-off mechanism. Such examples are pure liquid or gas applications, including the natural gas industry, chemical storage and applications using aggressive fluids. Slurries are not suitable for these valves.

Ball valve parts

Body
This refers to the valve frame that keeps all components intact. The part is connected to the piping in the piping system. The main body may have one, two or three parts. We will discuss this difference in a later section.
Dry
The stem is the shaft that connects the inner ball to the handle or actuator. This part transmits the movement of the actual quarter turn force from the actuator to the inner ball part.
Packing
Packing prevents the valve from leaking into the external environment.
Bonnet
The bonnet is the housing that covers the packing and stem. This provides three levels of leakage protection.
Ball
The ball is a hollow ball placed in the middle of the valve. When turned, it will allow the medium to pass or not pass through the valve.
Seat
As the name implies, this section houses the ball mechanism within the valve. The seat provides secondary protection against leakage when the valve is closed.
Actuator
The actuator is located on the outside of the valve body and opens or closes the valve from the outside. It can be opened manually or automatically.

How do ball valves work?

Depending on the number of ports, the valve can be bi-directional or more. Two-way valves can be bi-directional. This means that there are two seats, one for upward flow and the other for downward flow. There are other ball valves that allow flow in more than one direction. Cost effectiveness is the goal of these valves.
These valves require a quarter turn to open and allow components to pass through. Sealing the pipe with this type of valve requires another quarter turn, depending on the closing design.

Why choose a ball valve?

Reduced
This means that higher and more powerful pumps are not required to move fluids and gases. It also means that there is little change in pressure from high to low, ensuring smooth operation of the pipework components.
Stemless
The valve does not include a stem section that pops up or down depending on the movement. As a result, no gas or liquid flows out of the pipeline when the valve is closed or opened.
Cost-effective
This valve does not cost much but can be used for a long time. Thanks to the variety of designs, there is even more choice.
Versatile
The valve supports high pressures and temperatures. It can withstand temperatures of up to 700 bar and 200°C.
Easy to operate
The valve closes or opens with just 90° of rotation.
Easy to repair
Due to their simple design, especially the top inlet, they are easier to fix and assemble than other valve types.

Precautions when purchasing ball valves

Size
The size or diameter of the ball valve is important. Some ball valves are only available as full-bore valves. This means that they have the same diameter as the pipe. Size is important because it affects the flow of gases or liquids. Diameters can range from 1/4 valve to as large as a 2" valve.
WOG
WOG is another term for water, oil or gas and refers to substances that pass through valves and pipes. Each of them has a different pressure rating, which in turn can carry or affect various pressure ratings.
Body material
A common type is the steel ball type, but nickel-plated brass or bronze is also used in industry. Most of the time, 316 grade steel is the material of choice. However, please note that this depends on the type of media stream and other conditions. Chemically nickel-plated carbon steel balls should be used for non-corrosive media. Avoid chrome plated ball valves as they are more prone to corrosion.
Ports
Ports are the inlet and outlet points of the valve and can be either full or standard. They can restrict the flow of fluids or gases.
Types of flow media
The flow medium is the component that passes through the valve. Again, the type of fluid or gas is important when selecting the right valve. In relation to this, it reacts when it comes into contact with the valve.
The whole piping system
These valves are only part of the equation. Considerations should include the requirements of the whole system.
Industry standards
The valves should comply with the standards provided by the industry. Research supports the standards followed by the industry. By understanding the industry requirements and following this, you can ensure that errors, accidents etc. are kept to a minimum.
Seat material
Valves with soft seats usually have a limited pressure threshold. However, softer materials make good sealants.
These seats usually use a type of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as a rule of thumb. An example is Teflon. There is a catch here, however, in that only pure PTFE can be used for low pressure applications.
Another soft material commonly used for ball valves is neoprene or fluorocarbon elastomer. This material is often ideal for pulp and paper applications and is highly resistant to oils and medium chemicals. However, this material is not suitable for highly corrosive acids, such as hydraulic fluids.
Medium pressure applications use filled PTFE. in contrast, high pressure applications use polyetheretherketone (PEEK). Pure liquid or gaseous media applications use soft seats, while abrasive media use metal-seated ball valves. Meanwhile, low pressure systems are coated with tungsten carbide.
Soft seat materials do not react well at high temperatures. Therefore, use seats made from graphite. It is the ball valve pressure rating and material that determines the type of seat to be used.

Ball valve types (by valve opening)

There are two classifications of ball valve body types depending on the valve size relative to the pipe size.
Full port type
This type has the same type of bore as the bore of the connecting pipe. The advantage of this design is reduced friction. This design is used in the refining and petrochemical industries and does not restrict fluid flow, although installation costs are higher.
Reduced port type
Also known as a standard ported valve or reduced diameter valve. In addition, the valve is one size smaller than the pipe it is connected to. This type is typically used in gas and oil applications.
V-port type
This is a more specialised type of ball valve as it can also be used as a control valve. The ball or seat can have a V-shape as it has a V-shaped ball or seat. This design allows for a more uniform media flow and therefore a smaller pressure drop compared to the other two port types.

By type of ball movement

Trunnion mounted type
This type of ball valve has an additional anchor at the top, bottom or both of the ball. This is to counteract the valve torque. In addition, the trunnion reduces friction caused by linear high pressure as the component passes through the pipe. Double trunnion ball valves have an anchor point at both the top and bottom, as opposed to floating ball valves where the bottom holds the ball in place rather than allowing it to float. The top trunnion opens or closes the valve.
Floating
As the name implies, the ball inside the valve floats. It is therefore supported only by two seats made of soft elastic material. This is the most common design of ball valve. The stem attached to the top of the ball makes a quarter turn. In addition, the seat allows for a better seal. Due to its design, the floating type can be closed in both directions.

Types arranged by body

Valve manufacturers also classify ball valves according to their body arrangement. It can be split, top entry, tail entry or three-piece body.
Top entry type
This type of valve has a bonnet cover located on the top of the ball body. This allows for easy disassembly, assembly and servicing of the internal valve components.
Split type
This type of valve has the ball and other internal components in a smaller housing that is bolted together.
Lifting stem type
This type of ball valve has a stem that is embedded in the seal, so that the two sides do not touch. As a result, it eliminates friction between the two. When the stem is moved away from the seal, the valve opens. Conversely, when the valve is closed, the stem sits between the seals. This type of design reduces uneven wear on the seat.

Classification by material

The most common materials used for ball valve bodies are brass, PVC and stainless steel. a PVC ball valve effectively means that the valve has a PVC body.
Brass type
Because it is a stable alloy, brass is the most common material used for ball valve bodies. However, avoid valves made of this material, especially if the application has a chloride solution, as it will corrode the zinc component of the brass and thus reduce stability.
PVC type
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the material of choice when using corrosive media, unless the temperature exceeds 60°C. Having said that, this is best suited for low pressure use.
Stainless steel types
Grade 316 is usually used for high quality valves as it can withstand highly corrosive materials. Grade 314 stainless steel is used for medium quality.