Figure 1. Ball valves can be used in a wide range of applications, from general purpose to critical-service applications. They are useful for reliable, leak-tight shut-off and have a low overall cost of ownership.
BSTV are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.
Choosing the proper components for your industrial fluid systems is critical to ensuring they function as intended. One of the most important components to consider are the valves, which give operators the ability to control system fluid flow in ways that are most appropriate for the application&#;s needs.
It is important to consider the factors that affect complex fluid system design, including:
You should ask all these questions about your fluid system before finalizing your valve selection. In this article, we will provide examples of different industrial valves to help you make the right choice.
Fluid systems sometimes operate at high pressures and temperatures, and occasionally they carry hazardous materials that could pose a threat to the operators if leaks occur. To ensure fluid systems do not pose unnecessary hazards, best practices for installation and operation should be followed.
Valves play critical roles in enabling safely functioning fluid systems. For example, a safety shut-off valve or pressure relief valve can prevent your system from reaching overpressure, a potentially dangerous scenario that may lead to a blowout. That is why it is so critical to select the right valve for the function you are trying to achieve, which starts with understanding how flow operates within your system.
Ultimately, valves are designed to control flow, which is defined as a substance&#;s movement in a steady and continuous way through your system from higher pressures to lower pressures. Using a flowmeter, the pace of flow is recorded as a ratio of distance or volume per unit of time. For example, flow might be measured as meters per second, liters per minute, gallons per day, or other similar measurement criteria.
The diameter of a valve&#;s end connection and its flow path determine how well valves allow flow to occur. Manufacturers often include a flow coefficient, or Cv, with their valves, which gives operators a better understanding of how much flow a valve will control. The higher a Cv, the higher the flow rate &#; although, higher is not always better. The Cv you choose is highly dependent on the valve type and application. In some situations, that may mean the Cv will be close to zero.
While this may seem complicated, manufacturers can often help you determine the right valve selection for your application. To determine Cv or flow based on pressures, flow rates, temperatures, and media within your system, ask your manufacturer if they have a Cv calculator to offer the guidance you need.
Choosing the right valve for your application may initially seem overwhelming. After all, valves come in many sizes, configurations, materials of construction, and actuation modes. To make the best choice, it is always good practice to ask the first question in valve selection: What do I want the valve to do? Once you have answered that question, you can more easily decide what specific valves you need, which generally fall into one of five categories.
1. On/Off is the most basic type of valve function. On/off valves start or stop the flow of fluid, and there are many different types of valves to choose from, including:On/Off is the most basic type of valve function.start or stop the flow of fluid, and there are many different types of valves to choose from, including:
Figure 1)
Figure 2
)
Gate valves are designed primarily for blocking flow rather than regulating it. They contain a plate-like barrier (gate) that can be inserted into the stream of a fluid to block its flow.
Figure 3
)
2. Flow control valves are designed to regulate the flow of a fluid through the system. The amount of regulation depends on what type of valve is selected and can range from simple regulation to fine metering. The most common flow control valves are needle valves (Figure 4), which can provide on/off functionality if necessary. Orifice size, stem type, and stem position, which are controlled by the turning of the valve handle, will determine the pace of flow.
3. Directional flow valves guide the flow in the proper manner and are used to change the direction of the flow, if desired. The most common valves used for directional control are check valves (Figure 5) or multiport ball valves. It is important to note that directional flow valves do not throttle flow; instead, they operate in either the on or off position.
4. Much like the overpressure valves, excess control valves are designed to prevent problems if the flow levels at the valve rise to unsustainable levels. If excess flow happens downstream, the valve&#;s poppet is activated to the fully forward position, which prevents an uncontrolled release of system media.
5. In the case of overpressure protection valves, the goal is to prevent pressure buildup beyond a preset limit. For this application, systems typically rely on relief valves (Figure 6) or rupture discs. Relief valves are essential to any system that operates under pressure to avoid blowouts and can be calibrated to open after the pressure reaches predetermined levels. They are generally considered the last line of defense when pressures rise too high and can protect plants by allowing production to continue by relieving overpressure when it occurs.
The true cost of a valve is not its purchase price &#; it is the purchase price plus the cost of owning and maintaining or replacing that valve over time. To calculate the cost of ownership, you must know how long a valve will operate in your system between maintenance checks.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of High Pressure Flanged Ball Valves. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Maintenance costs must not only be calculated on the cost of replacement parts, but also in labor and downtime. Note that some valves are much easier to service than others. Some can be serviced in place; others must be removed from the process line.
As you design your fluid system to be as optimized as possible, selecting the right valves to meet your application needs is important. The better your understanding of each valve and its proper function, the better able you will be to make the decision that most fully meets your specific needs.
Work with a supplier who offers training on valve selection, identification, and troubleshooting so your team can remain up to speed and knowledgeable about the latest in valve innovations.
An original version of this article appeared on the Swagelok Reference Point blog here: swagelok.com.
---
Joe Bush is a Senior Product Manager for Swagelok Company.
Selecting the right high pressure ball valve for the job will involve a bit more consideration than choosing an ordinary, general service ball valve. For starters, you're working with higher pressures, which means higher stress on a valve housing's integrity. Many valves may be rated for high pressure, but not all valves are the same. Perfection is reflected in an attention to the details in manufacturing.
When selecting a high pressure ball valve, your main focus should be on quality of construction, particularly since ball valves regularly function as shut-off valves. Maintaining a seal at high pressure, for indefinite periods of time, in example, advocates the need for a superior level of materials and stress-handling capabilities. Superior performance from a high pressure ball valve, then, will be found in a part made with adherence to perfection.
A high-pressure ball valve is a ball valve specially designed to withstand high-pressure applications. Like other ball valves, it's a simple mechanism consisting of a ball with a bore drilled through the center.
As mentioned above, these valves consist of a ball with a bore drilled through it. By changing the alignment of the bore, the valve can be opened, closed, or throttled. However, like other high-pressure valves, they're capable of withstanding much more pressure than standard ball valves do.
Typically, these ball valves can be activated or deactivated using either a manual approach (much like any other faucet) or by incorporating an actuator, either electric or pneumatic.
Obviously, you'll be looking for a valve that's rated for high pressure, but what does that mean in terms of construction and configuration? For starters, high pressure ball valves will be machined, rather than cast, from a single block of material. In this way, the valve housing retains an integrity--paramount for high pressure applications--a cast housing cannot match. A closer look at a product from DMIC will further illustrate what a perfect high pressure ball valve looks like.
High-pressure ball valves find uses in a wide array of applications, so we can't possibly list them all. Here are a few significant options:
These are just a few of the many places where high-pressure valves and their sister products, the standard ball valves and electric ball valves, see regular use. Many other industries also rely on this type of mechanism to ensure safe and efficient flow through various parts of the system in question.
High-pressure ball valves are available in various materials because different uses and industries require different materials that react differently. For instance, in a hazardous material plant a stainless steel valve might be ideal since stainless steel is less corrosive. Some of the main materials high-pressure valves are made of are Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel.
Thanks to the wide array of industries they get used in, these valves also come in a range of sizes. Some of the most common sizes include the following:
Of course, these aren't the only available options, but they are the most common materials and sizes.
High-pressure valves come with an array of benefits and advantages, including the following:
The main difference between high-pressure valves and standard ball valves is that high-pressure ball valves have a more robust construction to withstand the pressures associated with their purpose.
When choosing the right high-pressure valve for your application, you need to bear in mind the pressure and temperature rating of your system as well as the type of materials being handled. You always want to ensure that the valves consist of something that won't react with the gas or liquid being handled.
Yes, they can! Like most ball valves, you can readily add an electric actuator to these high-pressure valves to give you remote control over them (as with actuated ball valves).
High-pressure valves should be checked and cleaned regularly to ensure that there's no buildup of corrosion or other debris within the system.
Here at ValveMan, we have an array of options to suit your every need. Whether you want stainless steel, or carbon-steel fittings, we have what you need. If you're struggling to find the right valve or need a quotation, feel free to contact us.
-320°F Cryogenic Liquid Nitrogen Valve - Buy Valves from ValveMan
Industrial Ball Valves - 9 Questions To Make The Right Choice
Everything you need to know about valve types
Using an Actuated Ball Valve Or a Solenoid Valve For Best Fluid Control In The System
Various Types of Ball Valves
How Does A Floating Piston Valve Work?
How Do Ball Valves Work?
The Difference Between #150, #300, and #600 Pound Flanges
Types of Ball Valves
Choosing the Perfect Apollo 3 Way Valve
Why Choose a Bonomi Ball Valve?
Selecting the Best Apollo Ball Valve for Natural Gas Use
Difference Between a Vented Ball Valve and a Standard Ball Valve
Why Choose Apollo Ball Valves
Difference Between a 1, 2, and 3 Piece Valve
Product Profile: 3 Piece Firesafe High Performance Ball Valve
What is the Difference Between Full Port and Standard Porting?
Are you interested in learning more about Flanged Ball Valve? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!