Six Considerations When Selecting a Ball Valve

When choosing a ball valve for your fluid conveyance system, several factors must be considered to ensure optimal performance and reliability. Check now

By Nick Spanhak. Nick Spanhak is product sales manager, Parker Fluid System Connectors Division. In this role, he handles a broad product portfolio, including ball valves.

Ball valves serve as essential components in fluid systems, allowing the complete shut-off of fluid flow for maintenance purposes. The tight seal provided by the rotating ball makes them the preferred choice for both liquid and gas conveyance. By selecting appropriate body materials and seals, these valves can be employed in various applications, accommodating everything from diesel fuel to compressed air.

It's crucial to understand that ball valves function only in fully open or fully closed positions. They are not designed for throttling fluid flow. Attempting to do so may lead to component failure, leaks, or loss of isolation capability in the system.

Here are six important considerations when choosing a ball valve for your application:

1. Body Material

Common materials for ball valve bodies include brass, carbon steel, stainless steel, and thermoplastic. Each material comes with its unique benefits and drawbacks, allowing the right selection based on your specific application demands.

Brass

Brass valves are among the most widely used for general applications due to their durability and corrosion resistance when stored and utilized properly. These valves are also cost-effective and suitable for applications involving compressed air, diesel fuel, vacuum, or inert gases.

Carbon Steel

Ideal for hydraulic systems that may experience high pressures, carbon steel ball valves can withstand pressures over 21 MPa (3,000 psi) and up to 41 MPa (6,000 psi) depending on size. However, one must consider chemical compatibility and temperature limits when selecting this material.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel valve options are the most robust, offering significant resistance to various chemicals and capable of maintaining higher pressure and temperature ratings. Although they are generally more expensive, they see common usage in food and beverage applications.

Thermoplastic

For high-purity applications, thermoplastic valves serve as the ideal choice. These valves are suitable for drinking water, beverage dispensing, and some chemicals, maintaining natural corrosion resistance but having lower pressure and temperature ratings.

2. Configuration

Correct valve configuration is key to ensuring optimal hose, tube, and pipe routing. The application setting helps define the necessary configuration, which can include:

• 3-way diversion
• 4-way diversion
• 90-degree elbow
• In-line
• Mini in-line
• Stacked in-line

3. Port Connection

Establishing the appropriate port connection requires understanding how the valve will interface, whether with a hose, tube, or directly with machinery. Common connection types can include:

• BSPP female/male threads
• Beaded hose barb
• NPT female/male threads
• O-ring face seal
• Push-to-connect
• Solder end
• Straight thread o-ring
• VDA

4. Seals

To ensure a leak-free connection, choosing the correct seal type based on the conveyed fluid is necessary. Typical seal materials include:

• Acetal
• EPDM
• FKM
• Fluorocarbon
• Nitrile

5. Handle

Handle choice may be customized based on space and personal preference, with common options including:

• Lever
• Oval
• Short lever handle
• Tee
• Pad locking handle

6. Venting

Finally, consider whether a vented ball valve is necessary. These are usually used in compressed air systems and should not replace an OSHA-approved emergency shut-off device if used on fuel lines.

If you cannot find a standard ball valve that meets your specifications, check with your supplier regarding custom design and manufacturing options. Selecting a ball valve tailored to your application will contribute significantly to a reliable and safe fluid conveyance system.

For additional resources and customized valve solutions, you can visit YIYUAN and for further customization details, check out Valve Ball Customization.

Further reading:
Double Offset Vs Triple Offset Butterfly Valve