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Floating Ball Valve

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What is a Floating Ball Valve?

A floating ball valve is a type of ball valve where the ball is not fixed in place but floats between two seats. The ball is held in place by the upstream pressure, which creates a seal between the ball and the downstream seat. The upstream seat provides additional sealing and prevents the ball from being pushed too far downstream.

Forged Metal Seat Ball Valve

Design: ASME B16.34, ISO 14313, ISO 10423, ISO 17292. Pressures range: ANSI 150 ~ANSI 2500 ,PN10~PN420. Size range: 1/2-12 / DN15~DN300

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Cast Metal Seat Ball Valve

Design: API 6D, ASME B16.34, . Pressures range: ANSI 150 ~ANSI 600 ,PN10~PN100. Size range: 2-10 / DN50~DN250

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Forged Floating Ball Valve

Design: API 608, API 6D,ASME B16.34, ISO 14313, ISO 10423, ISO 17292. Pressures range: ANSI 150 ~ANSI 1500 ,PN10~PN250. Size range: 1/2-12 / DN15~DN300

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Floating Ball Valve

Design: API 6D, ASME B16.34 . Pressures range: ANSI 150 ~ANSI 600 ,PN10~PN100. Size range: 2-10 / DN50~DN250

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Benefits of Floating Ball Valve

Floating ball valves offer several advantages in various industrial applications. Here are some key benefits:

Simple Design

Floating ball valves have a relatively simple design, making them easy to manufacture, install, and maintain. The basic components include a ball that floats in the flow media, a stem connected to the ball, and an actuator for valve control.

Bidirectional Sealing

Floating ball valves are often bidirectional, meaning they can provide effective sealing in both upstream and downstream directions. This feature enhances their versatility and reliability under various flow conditions.

Versatility in Material Selection

Floating ball valves can be constructed from various materials, including stainless steel, carbon steel, brass, and other alloys. This versatility allows users to select materials that suit the specific requirements of their applications, such as corrosion resistance or high-temperature capabilities.

Low Torque Requirements

The floating ball design allows the ball to move freely within the valve, reducing the torque required to operate it. This results in lower actuation costs and less wear on the valve components.

Quick Opening and Closing

Floating ball valves can provide fast and efficient shut-off capabilities. The design allows for quick opening and closing, making them suitable for applications where rapid response is essential.

Wide Range of Applications

Floating ball valves are used in a broad range of industries, including oil and gas, petrochemical, water treatment, and industrial processes. They can handle a variety of fluids, making them suitable for diverse applications.

Bubble-Tight Sealing

When closed, the floating ball valve provides bubble-tight sealing, preventing leakage of the fluid. This characteristic is crucial in applications where tight shutoff is essential to maintain process integrity and safety.

Modular Construction

Many floating ball valves feature a modular construction, allowing for easy replacement of individual components without removing the entire valve from the pipeline. This reduces downtime and maintenance costs.

Cost-Effective

The simplicity of the design, combined with ease of maintenance and a wide range of applications, makes floating ball valves a cost-effective choice for many industries.

Components of Floating Ball Valves

01/

Valve Body: The valve body is the main housing of the valve and is usually made from materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, or cast iron. The choice of material depends on factors such as pressure rating, temperature range, and chemical compatibility with the fluid.

02/

Ball: The ball, the heart of the valve, directly controls fluid flow. It’s typically made from durable, corrosion-resistant metals like stainless steel, brass, or bronze. Coatings or surface treatments may be added to enhance wear resistance and sealing performance further.

03/

Seats: The valve seats provide the sealing surfaces for the ball when the valve closes. They’re typically made from resilient, wear-resistant materials like PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), These materials ensure a tight seal and resist chemical attack.

04/

Tem: The stem connects the actuator (lever or other control mechanism) to the ball, transferring the rotational motion needed to open or close the valve. It’s made from corrosion-resistant alloys to ensure reliable operation in harsh environments.

05/

Seals and Packing: Seals and packing materials are used to prevent leakage around the stem and other moving parts of the valve. These components are often made from elastomers such as Nitrile, Viton, or EPDM, as well as PTFE-based materials, depending on the application requirements.

06/

Actuator: The actuator controls the valve’s opening and closing. It can be manual (e.g., handle, lever) or automated (e.g., gearbox, pneumatic or electric motor). The actuator type depends on the desired level of control and the specific application.

Floating ball valve is categorized by

One-piece floating ball valve

One-piece floating ball valve and flange gate valve are the same type of valve but the difference exists in the closing part only. A sphere is used in one piece ball valve facilitating its rotation around the centerline of the body. The ball valve is mainly used to shut off, dispense and change the direction of the medium in the pipeline.

Two-piece floating ball valve

Two-piece floating ball valve has two parts one is on the left and another is on the right, these two parts are connected by threads and bolts. This type of valve can withstand both high temperature and high-pressure conditions.

Three-piece floating ball valve

In three-piece floating ball valve, the body is composed of three segments from left to right, one is the main body and the other two segments are bonnets; the ends are connected through threads and bolts like two-piece floating ball valve.

What’s the difference between the floating ball valve and trunnion ball valve

Different design: In a floating ball design the ball is pushed against the downstream seat by the in-line pressure, causing the tightness. When operated from closed to the open position, the ball is to be rotated against both the in-line pressure (∆p) AND the friction of the seats.

Trunnion ball, the ball is inserted in a central bottom shaft (the trunnion). The ball is fixed between the stem and the trunnion, which inclines that the ball is not floating but fixed. The inline pressure presses the seats against the ball, causing the tightness. This inclines that during operation, the ball does not have to be rotated against the in-line pressure (∆p) AND the valve seats, but that is solely needs to be rotated against the pressure of the seats.

Different advantages: The trunnion-mounted ball valve is more suitable for high pressure applications and bigger dimensions compared to the floating ball. Another advantage of the trunnion design is the fact that a trunnion generally is included with a drain or bleed connection, making it suitable to function as a dual safe device. Furthermore, it functions as an relief valve automatically whenever the pressure in the central cavity is higher than the spring force of the seats. When this happens, the seat springs relieve automatically in order to drain the excess pressure back into the main line. Because of these reasons, the trunnion is commonly used in oil & gas applications, where extreme conditions pose the standard.

Applications of Floating Ball Valve

The effectiveness of floating ball valves renders them optimal for the following applications:

Water systems
Water distribution systems necessitate optimal pressure maintenance to prevent air pockets from impeding and sustaining water flow. Additionally, we must regulate water flow to avoid overflows. A floating ball valve is a water system control device that opens and closes based on pressure.

Emergency shut-off systems
For emergencies, pipeline systems transporting fuels, water, or gases need a quick shut-off valve. This ball valve works quickly and is suitable for SIL 3 emergency shut-offs because of its unmounted design.

Pipeline pressure relief
Proper management of pipeline pressure is critical to prevent malfunctions such as bursts. A pipeline uses a floating ball valve as a pressure discharge valve. Unlike a mounted ball valve that can blow out, the floating ball valve can handle the pressure without breaking.

What Can Floating Ball Valves Do in Plumbing?

One-Directional Flow

Some valves offer two-way options, while others are one-way valves. It depends on the user's needs. Floating ball valves only allow flow in one direction, which distinguishes them from other valves with more flexible flow options. Despite having limited applications, floating ball valves are simple to operate and control, keeping the flow of liquids and gases in one direction without error. They are typically used in industries where one-directional flow is required. Choosing the right valve for the right job is key to saving costs and resources. This also means easier maintenance, as wear and tear will primarily occur on one side.

Ball Movement Along with the Pressure of Liquid

The ball plays a central role in maintaining stability within the valve. It is installed in the middle to help regulate the pressure of liquids and gases. The ball ensures pressure stability by adjusting itself according to the pressure of the flow. Whether used for liquids or gases, it controls the flow firmly. The ball rotates inside the chamber to manage the pressure. If the pressure is low, the ball floats upwards. If the pressure is high, the ball sinks to stabilize the pressure. The ball’s movement is typically rotational, moving up and down.

Low Friction on the Seats

When a ball or rotational component is used inside the valve chamber, friction is a common concern. While it cannot be completely eliminated, it can be reduced. In floating ball valves, the spherical ball inside the chamber sits close to the seats. Although friction between the valve’s seats and the ball is normal, it is minimized in floating ball valves. This reduced friction allows the valve seats to last longer without excessive wear. The reduced friction is a result of the ball’s rotating function, which helps it remain stable and minimizes contact with the seats.

Tight Closure Under High Pressure

Pressure control is dependent on the grip provided by the stem nut. It holds pressure on the floating ball, allowing the liquid to flow or stop. The handle works to open and close the valve, supported by the stem and a spring beneath it. This mechanism ensures a tight seal even under high-pressure conditions. As a result, leakage of water or gas is prevented because the ball maintains the pressure. This feature makes the floating ball valve suitable for both domestic and industrial applications that require one-way flow.

Low Pressure Drop

Some valves suffer from significant pressure loss due to inefficient designs. Floating ball valves are efficient in this respect, maintaining the pressure of liquids and gases with minimal drop. This design ensures that the pressure remains consistent between the inflow and outflow, which is advantageous for users. Consequently, using floating ball valves helps optimize performance. The efficiency of a valve in maintaining pressure is an important factor to consider. It’s important to avoid using them with thick liquids, as these can obstruct the ball’s movement. Slurries and gels are also unsuitable for floating ball valves, as they may block the passage.

How Does Floating Ball Valves Work?

The actuator lever is the outermost part to open or shut off fluid flow. When turned within a 90-degree angle, it rotates the stem, which turns the ball into an open or closed position.

The ball remains unmounted at the valve’s base, supported only by a stationary polymer ring and seats.

When the valve is closed, medium pressure forces the ball against the seats. This will provide a tight seal and stop the flow immediately. However, given that the ball is unsupported, high-pressure levels cannot be distributed to a base to lessen the force on the ball. As a result, a floating ball valve is only suitable for low to medium-pressure applications with ordinary temperatures.

A quality floating ball valve should have an anti-static and anti-blow-out stem design for overflow management and leakage control. This implies that even when pressure is raised or when fluid surges occur, the stem will remain in place with no leaks. A flexible soft seat is essential as it creates sealing around the floating ball to stop media flow.

Our Factory

Our company owns a full set of equipment,complete processing and testing methods.The establishing of CAD valve design center and three-dimensional simulated manufacturing experimental design system ensures that new products with high quality can be developed promptly.Implementing perfect quality assurance system,our company is making unremitting endeavor for obtaining API certification on the passing ISO 9001, CE, API 6D International Quality Certification.

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FAQ

Q: How to choose a float valve?

A: Flow rate: Choose a valve that can manage the column of water your system requires. Size: The valve size should match your piping and tank dimensions. Material: Different environments may require specific materials to avoid corrosion and wear.

Q: What is a floating ball valve?

A: Floating ball valves are the most common type of valve used in industrial piping systems. These valves are designed so that as the seats begin to wear the pressure from the media flowing through the valve will force the ball against the downstream seat to maintain a tight seal.

Q: Should the ball valve be the same size as pipe?

A: Measure the Inside Diameter (ID) of the pipe, this is the distance across the pipe's inner surface from one side to the other. Once you have identified the ID, choose a ball valve that is closest to that size. Ball valves are typically labeled in inches for the pipe they will fit, not the ball valves physical size.

Q: What is the purpose of a ball float valve?

A: The floating ball valve can stop, distribute and alter the direction liquids flow within a pipeline, with its main features being the sealing design of the seats, which automatically relieve pressure, reliably sealing when flows reverse and acting as a locking device.

Q: What is the difference between a trunnion and a floating ball valve?

A: Trunnion ball valves have a higher pressure rating and are therefore better suited for high-pressure applications. Floating ball valves are less likely to leak, making them a better choice for applications where leaks are a concern.

Q: How do floating ball valves seal?

A: A typical floating ball valve seals off the line pressure using soft seats such as PTFE (a plastic material called polytetrafluoroethylene and otherwise known as Teflon) or TFM (a modified version of PTFE and also known as TFM 1600). TFM has a slight pressure/temperature advantage over PTFE.

Q: What is the difference between a ball valve and a float valve?

A: The ball valve is a kind of valve, which refers to the valve core (sealing part) of the valve with a spherical structure, which is used in the pipeline to block air or water flow; the float valve is because one end of the switch lever is a hollow sealing ball, Automatically control the opening and closing of the valve ..

Q: What is the best type of float valve?

A: The float valve, made of brass, provides brass corrosion-resistant solid products. It is the best choice compared to stainless steel or plastic materials.

Q: Which is better floating ball valve or trunnion ball valve?

A: A general rule of thumb is floating ball valves are best for low- to medium-pressure scenarios, and trunnion ball valves are best for high-pressure projects. However, trunnion valves are the most versatile, so they will work in most cases.

Q: What is the difference between a ball valve and a ball float valve?

A: Ball valve is a kind of valve, which means that the valve core (sealing part) of the valve is a ball type structure, which is applied in the pipeline to cut off the air flow or water flow; the floating ball valve is because one end of the switch lever is a hollow sealing ball, which can automatically control the switch .

Q: Should float valve be up or down?

A: The float valve is designed to be pushed up once there is sufficient pressure inside the cooker. Once pushed up, the silicone band seals the instant pot and the pin of the float valve serves as a lock, preventing the lid from being opened before the pressure is released.

Q: What is the function of the ball float valve?

A: Float valves can be used to prevent overfilling or overflow of tanks when the liquid needs to be diverted rather than dumped in a drain. Suitable valves can be mounted on the base of the tank with the outlet piped through the tank wall. The valve communicates with the float arrangement by suitable links.

Q: Is there a wrong way to install a ball valve?

A: Installation upside down is not recommended because it can cause dirt to accumulate by the stem packing.

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