Ball Valve

There are many different types of pipe fittings that are used to block the flow of the working medium, no matter in what form, gaseous, or liquid.

Currently, ball valves for water and steam, made of AISI 304 stainless steel, have appeared on the market, which are one of the most popular types of shut-off and control valves. Moreover, the ball price is quite affordable for the crane .

The ball valve is a locking device consisting of a movable part of the lock, which has a spherical shape of the body of rotation. That's why the crane was called ball. The ball, made of steel grade AISI 304 is able to move around its axis, which is located directly perpendicular to the axis of the pipeline. Ball seals are made of PTFE material ("Teflon") with the addition of 15% graphite, which allows to withstand high pressure in the temperature range from -50 to 180С.

The crane can be mounted on the pipeline in different ways. So, there is a ball valve for welding , as well as cranes, which are fixed by means of couplings, flanges and threads from ½ to 4 inches.

There are also more specific models of ball valves. One option is AISI 316 steel grade, specially developed for aggressive environments. While AISI 304 is used mainly for water or non-aggressive media.

Do not forget that the ball valve, as an element of the pipeline, can cope with tasks that are not feasible when using other shut-off valves. So it can withstand pressures of up to 64 bar, while the disc closures have a limit of 5-6 bars.

I recall once again - for all its merits, the ball valve also has a very affordable price, in comparison with other shut-off valves.

Also, the ball valve can also be hygienic. In this case, the remnants of the medium do not accumulate in the cavity between the ball and the crane wall. This type of crane is designed for the pharmaceutical industry and for those who have a perishable product with a unique microflora in the pipeline. But in the hygienic version, the faucet is seriously gaining in price. And it is worth considering whether to replace it with a bolt or valve.

To sum up: if you have a non-aggressive environment under high pressure in your pipeline - the ball valve is your choice.