The 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 locking device. Differs in convenience of a design and reliability in operation. This mechanism has completely replaced the cylindrical and conical cranes. The main purpose of a ball valve is to regulate and block the movement of a gas and liquid medium and create complete tightness. This is an indispensable device in working with aggressive environments.
The shut-off ball valve is a valve with a gate and a spherical surface. The main elements of its design include: a body, a ball with a cylindrical hole, a movable spindle, a removable handle, seals for the spindle, a rod. The device has a robust design and in any position creates a flow area of the pipeline, withhermetic closure of the passage.
Dignity
The ball valve has its advantages:
- High tightness.
- Small size.
- Increased ball wear resistance.
- Simplicity and convenience of design.
- High speed shutoff (gas, water).
- Minimum operating costs.
- Reduced accident rate.
- Simple management process.
Use area
Valves are used at large-scale and small-scale production levels. The most popular area of use is the gas pipeline. Here it is very important to eliminate the possibility of gas leakage during its movement through the pipeline. The ball valve has a high tightness and is used as a reliable shut-off device on the pipeline when transporting natural gas. It is suitable for indoor networks, networks with low pressure gas supply, for controlling gas flow with high pressure.
The valve is able to effectively control the flow of water and viscous liquids, chemical aggressive media and steam.
Ball valve and its varieties
Depending on engineering features, valves are classified into several varieties. According to the shape of the design, the cranes are divided into:
- straight-through;
- corner;
- mixing;
- checkpoints.
Depending on featuresvalves are divided into:
- shut-off;
- with the possibility of locking adjustment;
- Valves with special purpose.
Another feature for dividing mechanisms into subtypes is the functional bandwidth. Here the taps are divided into:
- standard;
- full bore;
- not full bore.
To determine the bandwidth, the cross-sectional area of the hole in the ball valve is calculated to the cross-sectional area in the cylinder.
The purpose of a ball valve is determined by the material of its manufacture: titanium, steel, polyethylene, cast iron, bronze.
Depending on the working direction, there are three types:
- Valves for opening and closing the flow in the pipe. The main requirement that they should comply with is to ensure the tightness in the closed state and the minimum level of resistance in the open position.
- Adjustable ball valves - used to change the flow rate in the pipeline.
- Special purpose valves - to ensure high-quality work with aggressive environments.
Flanged valve features
To fix the shut-off valve to the pipeline, special parts are used. These include: welded joints, flanges, pins and couplings. To withstand special loads, flanged ball valves are used. The equipment is installed on pipes with a diameter of up to 50 mm. Specialized sealing gaskets provide the valve with perfect tightness.
BIn most cases, a flanged ball valve is the optimal device for heating and boiler networks. Its connections are convenient in the field of repair, dismantling and replacement of the depressurized area. In this case, welding work is not required.
Actuator in flange valve control
Mechanical, electrical and pneumatic actuators are used to regulate and control the flow of a flanged valve. In a mechanical drive, there is equipment in the form of a handwheel for manually opening and closing the flow. Use such a drive when compactness is required.
Pneumatic drive is used for air compression. This is the most unpretentious type of control of any transported substance, even the most aggressive. 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. Serrated details help open and close the stream.
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 regulation. If flow control is also required, a servo-driven device must be purchased. For a private house system, fittings with a coupling and a working pressure of not more than 10 bar are sufficient. For a central heating system, useball valve with a pressure of more than 20 bar, and take into account the pressure margin. Perhaps there will be water hammer.
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, as the production uses fragile, corrosive materials, which significantly reduces the life of the valve.
