Top 6 Steps To Select The Right Ball Valve for Your Industry

One of the most popular types of valves used in operations is the ball valve. With ball valves, the flow of fluids or gases in a process is managed in a rotational motion. For various industrial applications, ball valve manufacturers give you a variety of choices to customize your valve as per your need.

To determine the right ball valve for your industry, here is a 6-step process that involves evaluating your need and choosing the right feature. So, let’s get to work with these top 6 steps for selecting the right ball valve for your industry:

Step-1 Choose the right valve size

The size of the valve matters a lot. Get an incorrect size valve and you are sure to have problems with operating it. Also, it will affect the performance of the valve. An over-sized or undersized valve can choke the flow of the contents passing through the valve or escalate your costs due to inefficiency.

Do you need a full bore ball valve or a reduced bore ball valve? Note it down. The standard size of a ball valve can be from ½" to 6". Also, check if you have any specific size requirements or the standard size of ball valves is good enough to meet your needs.

Ball valves are ideal for applications that require a good throttling feature. To select the right valve size, you need to find out the flow control during the opening. Characterized plugs can be useful for modifying the flow of contents in certain valves.

Step-2 Select the right material

Metal ball valves made of stainless steel and carbon steel give a robust structure to ball valves.If you plan to use the ball valve for corrosive media then ask ball valve suppliers to give you a valve body that is corrosion resistant.

In industrial processes, the environment can have elevated pressure or temperature. If your operating environment requires a material that can withstand such extreme fluctuating conditions then make a material choice accordingly.

Step-3 Fluid volume and working pressure

Different types of fluids come with a different flow rate. Find out what is the fluid volume that will pass through the ball valve. Also, the working pressure varies as per the application for ball valves. Discuss these specifications with ball valve manufacturers to shortlist the right valve design for your application.

Step-4 What performance expectations do you have?

What kind of end connection do you need? Ball valves can have flange, screwed or socket weld end connections. As per client requirement, reputed valve manufacturers produce custom-engineered and fire-safe ball valves.

Check the experience and clientele of the manufacturers to ensure that you will get ball valves designed, produced and tested as per global quality standards.

Step-5 How about maintenance of the ball valves?

Ball valves are compact and generally, require low maintenance. The quality of the valves and the usage will help you to gauge the maintenance required for the valves.

Teflon seals can improve the quality of ball valves. Also, the precision of the ball valve manufacturers in producing the valves ensures that you get a long-lasting product that requires less maintenance and gives optimum performance.

Step-6 Does the chosen ball valve have the necessary certifications?

Safety standards have to be followed by your chosen ball valve manufacturer. Does the valve close tightly? If not, it can be a safety hazard.

Check with your ball valve suppliers about the test certificates assuring the quality and performance of the ball valves. Generally, ball valve manufacturers perform a monitored air test and hydro test for checking the quality of the valves.

Sudarshan is the author of this article on lpg vaporizer manufacturers .