Ball valves are the most common valves used in residential plumbing and industrial plumbing works. The ball valve’s actual purpose is to shut off the valve that controls the flow of the liquid or gas through the closed tube or pipe system, onshore and offshore. These valves come in different materials like brass and stainless steel. Here we will discuss how the ball valves work and the Full Port Ball Valve.

How does the ball valve work?

Ball valves are cut off valves that stop or start the flow of fluid downstream of the valve, using a ball known as a gate valve. The medium can flow through or get restricted by the ball – turning a quarter revolution (90 degrees) around its axis. They have a long service life and ensure rigid sealing – during that period, even when the valve is not in use.

Why choose the ball valves?

Ball valves are strong, long-lasting, and dependable. Even after extended periods of inactivity, they shut firmly. These characteristics make them ideal for shutdown and control applications. Smooth flow control and throttling are not possible with ball valves.

Full Port Ball Valves:

Full Port Ball Valve, sometimes known as the “full bore.” It is a specialized designed valve for the unrestricted flow of the liquid when it gets opened. Full port ball valves get required in applications like hot tapping operations and pigging lines. The design of this ball valve restricts the formation of the empty space and pressure drop.

The apertures of full port valves are the same size as the surrounding pipe. A 2″ Full port ball valve, for example, will work with a 2″ pipeline and have a 2″ valve opening inside the ball. It’s as if a Full port valve isn’t present at all – it is in the “on” or open position. The flow is unhindered.

In addition to full port valves, a “reduced port” ball valve is also available. As you may expect, the ball opening is smaller than with full port valves. The increased velocity is due to the narrow open.

Assembling:

The housing assembly of the ball valves can get divided into three types:

• One-piece
• Two-piece
• Three-piece

The difference is how they get assembled and, as a result, maintenance and repair options are limited. In each embodiment, the valves operate the same way.

One-piece valve:

It is the cheapest option. The ball gets encased by two sections that are either pressed or welded together. Cleaning and maintenance of the valves are not possible. This kind typically gets employed in applications that need less processing power.

Two-piece valve:

They are easy to clean, service, and check. A threaded connection gets commonly used to join the pieces. These valves must be removed entirely from the pipe to separate the two valves.

Three-piece valve:

It is one of the more costly valves. Bolt connections get used to holding the components together. The valve can get maintained without removing it from the pipeline because of its design.