Ball valves are used widely in the industry, and it is safe to maintain them before they erode to guarantee that they remain functional during the operation. Regular lubrication and cleaning extend their lives and ensure smooth operation.
These valves are divided into five broad body types: welded, three-piece, two-piece, single- body top entry, and split-body. They are a great option for managing various applications due to the following characteristics, and occasionally they are chosen over other valves that offer less control in throttling applications.
The benefits of ball valves
- Offer leak-proof service.
- Open and shut swiftly,
- Compared to gate valves, they are significantly smaller.
- They are lighter than gate valves,
- Gate or globe valves lack multi-designed flexibility, which reduces the number of valves required.
- These valves are produced in various sizes and forms to allow for selection versatility.
- The high-quality valves offer safe operation under high temperature and high-pressure situations, requiring less force to operate than conventional valves.
Balanced ball valve
A ball valve uses the pressure of the water to help close the valve.
Overview
A typical ball valve only has one side of the washer where the incoming water enters. A washer is pushed into the valve seating by the float when the water level in the cistern rises, closing the valve. Therefore, the float's buoyancy must be sufficient to counteract the pressure of the incoming water.
Equilibrium ball valves operate differently in this regard. The water entering the washer can go to the opposite side thanks to an equilibrium ball valve. This maintains the pipe's equilibrium—or equal water pressure on both sides—. The upward force of the float only needs to be strong enough to raise the float arm, thanks to the equalisation of the water pressure on either side of the washer. It doesn't have to push past the incoming water's force.
Equilibrium ball valves are beneficial for cisterns with a big diameter inlet pipe or locations with extremely high water pressure. They have additionally been applied to stop water hammer.
Types
There are numerous varieties of equilibrium ball valves available. 1/2′′ brass valves resemble ball valves of the Portsmouth design in appearance. Even larger bores are available, such as 1.5 inches and 2 inches, but these can cost hundreds of pounds each. These, however, are only used for very big cisterns, as those in community housing, like a building of apartments. One of the key benefits of equilibrium ball valves is that the arm may be much lighter and more compact than standard ball valves because the float needs to elevate the arm, not push it against the incoming water. The float valves in the Torbeck series are clear examples of this design idea. These are designed for cistern toilet use.
How does a balance valve function?
The water entering the washer can go to the opposite side thanks to an equilibrium ball valve. This maintains the pipe's equilibrium—or equal water pressure on both sides. Float valves are incredibly practical tools for managing the fluid level in storage tanks. They accomplish this by responding to variations in liquid level inside the tank and opening or closing a valve.
