Unplanned downtime due to leakages in piping systems, weak joints and delays in critical maintenance can be costly to your factory. This is why you must select the correct ball valve body construction.
Every valve body construction – from top-entry that allows for inline servicing to fully welded body that eliminates leakages offer unique advantages. They guarantee fast maintenance, minimal system disruption and optimizing on total cost of ownership.
In this article, we will analyze 12 common ball valves you will find in the market.
What are Ball Valves?
A ball valve is a flow control device that has a ball with a hole through the middle. This ball rotates at 90° inside the valve body to either allow fluid to flow through the hole or block it completely.
Types of Ball Valves
Classification by Ball Support Mechanism
1. Floating Ball Valve
Its operation requires an actuator. When the actuator rotates the ball 90°, the bore aligns with the pipeline allowing fluid to flow freely. Fluid pressure pushes the ball against the downstream seat, creating a tight seal that prevents flow when the solid part of the ball blocks the hole.
Advantages
- Easier to install in tight spaces reducing pipeline complexity
- Can handle liquids, gases, and non-abrasive slurries in many industries
- Manufacturing and purchase costs are lower
Limitations
- Only works well in low-to-medium pressure systems
- The ball moves slightly under pressure, which can cause friction and erosion
- May fail in high-temperature environments reducing its life span and degrading sealing performance
2. Trunnion-mounted Ball Valve
It rotates the valve at quarter turn aligning the bore with the pipeline where fluid flows freely through the aligned opening with minimal pressure loss.
In closed position, the ball rotates at quarter turn moving the solid part of the ball across the flow path. Pressure acts on the ball but the trunnion support prevents the ball from moving, making the downstream seat to maintain a tight reliable seal.
Advantages
- Handles high pressure and large diameters
- It is easy to operate even under high-pressure conditions
- Offers reliable sealing in high-pressure and aggressive fluid applications
- Has low maintenance and lower total cost of ownership
Limitations
- Requires more piping support and space
- Can delay projects if not planned ahead because manufacturing and delivery take longer
3. Elastic Ball Valve
In open position, the ball rotates at 90° aligning the bore with the pipeline, allowing fluid to flow freely. Its soft seat is slightly compressed but does not obstruct flow.
In closed position, the ball rotates at 90° blocking the pipeline causing the elastic seat to deform slightly pressing tightly against the ball. This creates a bubble tight seal even at low pressure.
Advantages
- Achieves bubble-tight sealing even at low pressures reducing the risk of leaks
- Handles corrosive fluids safely in moderate-pressure applications
- Absorbs water hammer and system noise
Limitations
- Cannot reliably seal at very high pressures
- Seat material can fail, causing leaks
- Not suitable for abrasive fluids since seats can rapidly degrade
Classification by Body Construction
4. Side-entry Ball Valve
The valve consists of a spherical ball with a central bore mounted inside a side entry body. This allows the valve body to be opened giving access to the ball and seats without removing the valve from the pipeline.
The ball rotates at 90° aligning the bore with the pipeline as fluid flows freely through the aligned bore with minimal pressure drop.
In closed position, the ball rotates at 90° as the solid part blocks the pipeline stopping the flow. Fluid pressure pushes the ball against the downstream seat as sealing is achieved through seat compression.
Advantages
- Reduces downtime during maintenance, allowing quicker inspections and repairs
- Suitable for low-to-high-pressure systems depending on ball type
- Prevents leakage, protects downstream equipment
- Handles high-volume flow efficiently without excessive seat wear
Limitations
- Its split body design and maintenance features making them more expensive
- It is heavy and bulky hence requires more structural support and space in the pipeline
- Requires trained personnel and more time to service correctly
5. Top Entry Ball Valve
Fluid passes straight through with minimal resistance when the bore of the ball is aligned with the pipeline. In closed position, the ball rotates at 90°, positioning the solid side of the ball against the valve seats, blocking the flow completely.
Advantages
- It is easy to maintain since maintenance can often be performed without dismantling surrounding piping systems
- Designed for high-pressure and demanding operating conditions to ensure reliableperformance even in harsh environments
- They are built with high-quality materials and durable internal componentsthat allow them to operate reliably for extended periods
Limitations
- They are generally more expensive to manufacturethan other ball valve types.
- Has increased chances of mechanical issues if maintenance is not done properly due to its complex design.
- Top-entry ball valves are often bulkier and heavierthan other ball valve designs.
6. Fully Welded Ball Valve
Fully welded ball valve has a permanently welded valve body that creates a sealed and highly durable structure. In open position, the bore in the ball is aligned with the pipeline as fluid flows freely through the valve. While in closed position the ball is rotated 90 degrees as the solid side of the ball blocks the passage inside the valve body.
Advantages
- Its body is permanently welded hence leak proof.
- It is designed to create a single, solid valve structurethat can withstand mechanical stress.
- Their sealed construction reduces wear on external connections and protects internal components from environmental damage.
Limitations
- The valve body cannot be disassembledresulting in difficult internal maintenance and repair.
- When damaged they require complete replacement instead of component repair,which is expensive.
- Fully welded ball valves require specialized welding techniques and precision manufacturing.
Classification by Flow Path or Number of Ports
7. Full Bore vs Reduced Bore Ball Valve
Its internal bore of the ball is equal to the internal diameter of the pipeline creating a continuous flow path when the valve is opened. In its closed mechanism, the actuator rotates the stem for the solid side of the ball to face the pipeline blocking fluid movement completely.
In a reduced bore ball valve, the bore diameter inside the ball is smaller than the internal diameter of the pipeline. When opened, the stem rotates the ball 90 degrees, aligning the bore with the pipeline. When closing, the ball is rotated so that the solid surface blocks the pipeline as the valve completely stops fluid flow.
Advantages of Full-bore ball valves
- Provides a straight and unobstructed flow path, allowing fluids to move smoothly through the valve without turbulence
- The wide internal passage of a full-bore valve reduces the likelihood of material buildup or clogging
- Generates less turbulence inside the valve
Advantages of Reduced Bore Ball Valves
- They are typically smaller and lighter
- Generally easier to transport, handle, and install
- Provides sufficient flow control and reliable sealing performance
Limitations of Full-bore ball valves
- Their production cost is higher because their internal passage matches the pipe diameter which requires more raw materials
- They are large and heavy hence can affect pipe support design and installation logistics
Limitations of Reduced Bore Ball Valves
- It has a smaller internal bore than pipe diameter, hence fluid must pass through a narrower openinginside resulting to higher pressure loss across the valve
- They are prone to clogging or buildupwhen handling fluids that contain suspended solids
8. Multi-port Ball Valve
It is often designed with more than two ports to allow fluid flow between multiple pipelines. Its ball is connected to a stem, that is operated manually. When the stem rotates, the ball inside the valve also rotates aligning with different ports depending on the rotation angle. When the solid section of the ball blocks the internal passages, fluid flow stops completely.
Advantages
- They can perform several flow control functions simultaneously
- They simplify piping layouts reducing installation hassle and piping complexity
- These valves operate using quarter-turn rotation, which allows fluid paths to be changed quickly
Limitations
- They have complex internal passages connecting to multiple pipelines that results to higher initial cost
- Their internal passages are often smaller than the main pipe diameter reducing maximum flow rate and causing high pressure drop
Classification by Seat Materials
9. Soft-seated Ball Valves
It is a type of ball valve that is spherical with a hole drilled through it. Its ball rotates at 90° aligning its bore with the pipeline to allow fluids flow through it. When rotated 90°, the solid portion of the ball blocks the pipeline, stopping flow completely.
Advantages
- It offers tight sealing preventing leakage in critical applications
- Its chemical resistance character allows use with many fluids including corrosive chemicals
- In moderate temperatures, it is durable
Limitations
- When exposed to higher temperature, they cause seat deformation, material softening and loss of sealing capability
- They are vulnerable to wear when used with fluids containing solids, slurry, or abrasive particles
- Not Suitable for high pressure because it can cause leaks at the ball-seat interface
10. Metal-seated Ball Valves
Metal-seated ball valves use a rotating spherical ball which seals against metal seats to control fluid flow. In open position, the bore in the ball aligns with the pipeline as fluid flows straight through the valve without resistance.
In closed position, the ball rotates at 90° as the solid side of the ball presses against the metal seats blocking the flow path.
Advantages
- They can operate at extreme temperatures depending on the type of material and coating
- Maintains structural integrity for longer periods when exposed frequently to aggressive chemicals
- Suitable for high-pressure oil and gas transmission systemsbecause of their high-pressure capability
Limitations
- They are more expensive because they require precision machining of sealing surfaces and strict manufacturing tolerances
- Its manufacturing is more complex because it requires specialized surface hardening and strict alignment between the ball and seats
- Metal seated ball valves need automated systems because of their larger actuators that require more force to operate
By Body Assembly
11. One-piece Body
This valve controls fluid flow using a single, solid valve body that houses all internal components. Fluid flows straight through the valve with minimal resistance when the hole in the ball aligns with the pipeline.
In its closing mechanism, the ball rotates at 90 degrees as the solid side of the ball blocks the flow path stopping fluid movement.
Advantages
- One-piece body valves are typically cheaper to produce because fewercomponents are required making assembly easier
- Their integrated body construction results in a smaller and lighter valve compared to alternatives
- Its solid body design provides high structural strength hence resists mechanical strength.
Limitations
- Since the body is manufactured as a single sealed unit, internal components cannot be easily accessed making it hard to repair
- One-piece body valve restricts modifications making it less flexible for complex systems.
12. Two-piece Body
It controls fluid flow using a rotating spherical ball inside a valve body made of two separate sections joined together by bolts. In open position, the bore directly aligns with the pipeline as fluid flows through the valve without resistance. In closed position, the handle rotates at 90 degrees making the solid side of the ball to block the flow path.
Advantages
- The two-piece design allows better access to internal componentsmaking it easier to maintain
- It provides better structural strength
- They use high-quality soft seatsthat press against the ball to create tight sealing
Limitations
- It is not easy to maintain since internal components cannot be serviced without disrupting the system
- They use thicker sections and additional connection componentswhich makes them heavier
How to Choose Ball Valve for any Applications
· Pressure Rating
You will start by identifying the highest pressure the valve can experience by considering normal operating pressure and pressure spikes. Consider temperature effects because pressure ratings drop as temperature increases.
· Working Temperature
Determine the highest temperature your fluid may reach during operation, and its lowest operating temperature during operation.
Consider temperature impact on pressure rating by use of pressure temperature charts.
· Type of Fluid
Before selecting a valve, you must know the exact properties of the fluid and choose valve body materials that are compatible with the fluid.
· Abrasive/Slurry Media
Understand the abrasive characteristics before anything else. Select the right seat material and valve body material.
· Cryogenic
You must know the lowest and highest temperatures the valve will encounter by determining the operating temperature range. Choose the right body material because at cryogenic temperatures, many metals lose toughness and become brittle.
At the same time, you must select cryogenic compatible seats as you consider valve design features.
· Requirement for Inline Maintenance
Evaluate valve body design and determine how often you will require maintenance. Evaluate seat and seal replacement options and check if your valve orientation and installation allow safe maintenance
FAQs
Can you use ball valves for throttling?
Yes. You can use ball valves for throttling when you want a short-term manual flow adjustment or in low pressure systems.
Why are 3-piece ball valves popular in industrial applications?
3-piece ball valves are popular in industrial applications because they are made of three separate body sections and a central body that houses the ball, stem, and seats. These sections make it easy for maintenance and reduced downtime.
When should you choose soft-seated over metal-seated ball valves?
Choose soft seated ball valves when:
- Your operating temperatures are moderate
- Your fluids are clean and non-abrasive
- Lower operating torque Is required
What does “full port” and “reduced port” in ball valves mean?
A full port is a ball valve where its internal opening is the same diameter as the pipeline. A reduced port is a ball valve that its internal opening is smaller than the internal diameter of the pipeline.
How long do ball valves last?
Depending on operating conditions, materials, maintenance practices, and the type of fluid being controlled, ball valves can last up to 20 years.
Can you install ball valve in any orientation?
Yes. You can install a ball valve in any orientation because operation is based on a rotating ball that opens or blocks flow and do not rely on gravity to function.
Partner with OMSS
OMSS is a leading valve manufacturer in China. All our valves are custom-made to match your unique project requirements such as flow-rate, pressure rating and temperature.
Therefore, if you are looking for a trusted partner in the valve industry, OMSS offers flexible MOQs and competitive prices.
