Where is the Ball Valve Used?

Ball valve is one of the types of valves used to open and close the flow of liquid and gas in pipelines in a fast, safe and controlled manner. The flow is fully opened or closed by rotating the perforated sphere in the valve by 90 degrees.Thanks to its simple operating principle, high sealing performance, low pressure loss and long service life, ball valves have a wide range of uses from industry to building installations.Ball valves, especially preferred in water, natural gas, compressed air, chemical fluids, petroleum products and process lines, can be adapted to different applications according to the material used, pressure class, connection type and gasket structure. So, where is the ball valve used? Here are the 10 most common uses of ball valves. 1. Plumbing and Water Distribution SystemsOne of the most common uses of ball valves is plumbing. It can be used in buildings, factories, water tanks and various industrial facilities for the purpose of directing water to certain areas or completely shutting down the line. Since the passage diameter in the valve is close to the pipe diameter in full bore ball valves, the pressure loss during flow is quite low.This feature provides a significant advantage especially in high flow water lines. Usage areas include:
Clean water installations
Domestic water lines
Water tanks
Pumping stations
Industrial water systems
Irrigation systems
Pressurized water lines
ball valves can be opened and closed in a quarter of a turn, making it easier to quickly cut off water in an emergency. 2.Natural Gas and Gas Installations
Ball valves are an important flow control element in natural gas and various gas installations when models with appropriate technical specifications are used. One of the most important issues in gas lines is sealing. The structure of the ball valves allows high sealing together with the correct seal and body materials. Natural gas ball valves;In building natural gas installations
At the boiler room entrances
In industrial gas lines
In burner connections
In gas distribution systems
In machine gas supply lines
the valve to be used in gas applications must comply with the relevant gas standard and installation requirements. Not every standard ball valve should be used in the natural gas line. 3. Heating and Cooling SystemsBall valves are also widely used in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems called HVAC. In heating and cooling installations, water or appropriate heat transfer fluids may need to be sent to certain areas or equipment may need to be isolated from the installation. Ball valves allow this process to be carried out quickly, for example;Boiler systems
Chiller systems
Air handling units
Fan-coil lines
Heating installations
Cooling water lines
Heat exchangers
equipment can be isolated from the rest of the line by closing valves placed on either side of a pump or exchanger to be serviced. Thus, maintenance operations can be carried out without the need to drain the entire installation. 4. Petroleum and Petrochemical PlantsIn petroleum and petrochemical plants, it is of great importance to control the fluids passing through the pipelines safely. Ball valves can be used in systems where various petroleum derivatives are transported when the appropriate body, sphere, stem and sealing materials are selected. Main applications:Crude oil lines
Fuel transfer systems
Fuel facilities
Oil storage tanks
Refineries
Petrochemical plants
Fuel filling systems
in these facilities, factors such as operating pressure, temperature, chemical properties of the fluid and fire safety must be taken into account in the valve selection. 5. Chemical Industry and Process LinesLiquids and gases of very different properties can be used in the chemical industry. For this reason, when choosing a valve, attention should be paid not only to the pressure class, but also to the chemical compatibility of the fluid and valve materials. Suitable material selected ball valves;In chemical production facilities
In paint production facilities
In detergent production
In chemical storage systems
In chemical transfer lines
In dosing systems
In process facilities
materials such as stainless steel or application-specific sealing elements may be preferred in corrosive fluids.When choosing the right valve in chemical systems, the type, concentration, temperature and working pressure of the fluid should be evaluated together. 6. Compressed Air Systems
Ball valves are widely preferred in compressed air installations used for the operation of pneumatic machines and equipment in factories.When a machine needs to be disconnected from the air line during maintenance, the relevant section can be isolated by closing the ball valve. Main points of use:
Compressor outputs
Main compressed air pipelines
Machine connections
Air tanks
Distribution lines
Pneumatic systems
Production lines
is as follows.Since it is enough to turn the lever 90 degrees, the operator can easily understand whether the valve is open or closed. 7. Food and Beverage Industry
Hygiene, corrosion resistance and cleanability are extremely important in the food and beverage sector. Especially stainless steel ball valves designed in accordance with the application;In drinking water production systems
Beverage production facilities
In milk and dairy facilities
In food process lines
In fluid transfer systems
In filling facilities
however, the hygienic design of the valve to be used in lines in direct contact with food, gasket material, surface structure and compliance with the relevant food safety requirements must be checked separately.A standard industrial ball valve may not be directly applicable to every food process. 8. Fire Installations and Fire Water Lines
Ball valves can be used in auxiliary lines of fire installations or in various fire water applications where permitted by the system design and relevant standards. For example, in some systems;Fire water auxiliary lines
Test and drainage lines
Equipment connections
Pump auxiliaries
Pressure gauge connections
ball valve can be preferred at points such as. The choice of valves in fire installations is different from ordinary water installations. The valves to be used must comply with the relevant projects, regulations and standards.When choosing the valve type in the main fire water lines, the certificate and technical conditions required by the installation project should be taken as a basis. 9. Agriculture and Irrigation Systems
In the agricultural sector, water should be distributed to different regions in a controlled manner. Ball valves can be used to open and close certain sections of irrigation lines, in particular;Drip irrigation systems
Field irrigation lines
Greenhouse installations
Water tanks
Pump systems
Suitable parts of fertilization systems
Main and secondary water lines
can be preferred in areas such as. The fast on-off feature of the ball valves helps to control the different irrigation zones independently of each other.Environmental conditions, temperature, frost risk and corrosion conditions should also be taken into account in valves to be used in the outdoor environment. 10. Industrial Machinery and Production Facilities
Water, air, oil, gas or various process fluids can be used simultaneously in factories and production facilities. For this reason, ball valves can serve as one of the basic flow control equipment in many machines and production lines.Examples of use:
CNC and production machines
Hydraulic and auxiliary systems
Machine cooling lines
Process machines
Compressor systems
Test machines
Production line auxiliary installations
Tank filling and emptying systems
in case of maintenance or malfunction, only the line of the relevant machine can be closed and other parts of the system can continue to operate.Why Are Ball Valves So Commonly Used? One of the most important reasons why ball valves are used in different sectors is their simple and robust working structure. The main advantages are:
High sealing: Provides high sealing performance in the closed position with appropriate design and gasket structure.Fast open-close: It can usually be fully opened and closed with only a 90-degree arm movement. Low pressure loss: The pressure loss can be kept at a low level, especially in full-pass models, since the flow path is wide. Long service life: It is a durable valve solution under appropriate operating conditions. Easy operation: The open and closed position can be easily understood from the position of the valve handle.Wide range of products: It can be produced with brass, stainless steel, carbon steel or different body materials according to the application. Different connection options: Threaded, flanged, welded and various special connection types available. Suitability for automation: In addition to manual use, it can be integrated into automatic control systems with pneumatic or electric actuators. What Should Be Considered When Choosing a Ball Valve?It is not enough to look only at the pipe diameter when choosing a ball valve. The operating conditions of the system where the valve will be used have to be determined correctly. In particular, the following criteria should be considered when making the selection:Fluid type
DN nominal diameter
PN pressure class
Maximum working pressure
Minimum and maximum operating temperature
Body material
Sphere and shaft material
Gasket material
Full-pass or narrow-pass structure
Threaded, flanged or welded connection
Manual or actuated operation
Standards and certification requirements of the sector in which it will be usedFor example, a ball valve used in plumbing and a valve used in a high-temperature industrial process line may not have the same technical characteristics. Likewise, instead of a standard water valve, a valve with verified suitability for gas application should be preferred in the natural gas line. Where is a Full Bore Ball Valve Used?In full bore ball valves, the flow channel in the valve is designed to be close to the inner diameter of the pipeline. Thanks to this structure, the flow is ensured to pass through the valve with lower resistance. Full bore ball valves in particular;In high flow water lines
In industrial facilities
In oil and fuel transfer
In compressed air systems
In process facilities
In pump systems
In main pipelines
in systems where the pressure loss should be kept as low as possible, a full-through structure can provide a significant advantage. What is a Flanged Ball Valve Used For?Flanged ball valves are especially preferred in medium and large diameter industrial pipelines. Thanks to the flange connection, the valve can be removed from the line and maintained or replaced when necessary. Main uses:
Water treatment plants
Industrial water lines
Petroleum and petrochemical plants
Natural gas systems
Compressed air lines
Factory installations
Tank and pump systems
Process linesin which fluids can the ball valve be used? Ball valves can be used in many different fluids, provided that the material and technical specifications of the valve are appropriate. Examples include:
Water, air, natural gas, various gases, oils, petroleum products and suitable chemical fluids can be shown. However, the suitability of a ball valve for a particular fluid cannot be determined by looking only at the valve type.Chemical compatibility of body, sphere, shaft and seal materials with fluid; operating temperature and pressure must be checked. Conclusion
Ball valves have a wide range of uses from water installations to natural gas lines, from petrochemical plants to compressed air systems, from agriculture to industrial production facilities.High sealing, fast on-off, low pressure loss and different connection options have made ball valves one of the important equipment of modern piping systems. However, it is not correct to use the same ball valve for each application.For safe and long-lasting use, fluid type, DN diameter, PN pressure class, temperature, material, gasket structure and connection type should be evaluated together in valve selection. VANEX VALVE offers product options for reliable flow control in water, gas and process installations with ball valve solutions for different industrial applications.

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