The main purpose for the application of ball valves. Ball valves - technical specifications

Ball valves, being reliable shut-off valves, have various modifications, types and types, and it is not possible to single out something basic.

There are full bore ball valves and narrowed ball valves. The difference lies in the presence or absence of a narrowing of the conditional passage. Also, ball valves differ in the nature of the movement of the plug, and depending on this, they are divided into ball valves with rotation of the plug without lifting and with lifting the plug mainly before the turn and lowering following the turn.

The shape of the conditional passage of ball valves can also be varied. For example, it can be round, rectangular, trapezoidal or oval.

The body material of ball valves can be very different: bronze, brass, zinc, aluminum, cast iron, steel, titanium, plastic, ceramics, graphite and many others.

Saddles (nests) of ball valves can be metal, graphite, plastic and rubber. Those. the material of the sealing surfaces is different.

The design of the body of ball valves can be with a parallel connector, perpendicular, and also inclined to the axis of the pipeline system. There is also the option of a one-piece case, without a connector.

Ball valves can be operated both manually and by means of an electric drive, or a pneumatic drive or a hydraulic drive. Manual control is possible in ball valves with a small nominal diameter. But when it is already required to manage KSh large diameter, and besides, with a high pressure of the working medium, then one cannot do without the use of a mechanized drive.

Ball valves are divided into straight, angle, three-way and multi-way. These are four types of ball valves differing in the direction of flow and the number of nozzles.

In the gas and oil industries, the flanged ball valve is the most suitable option. There are also other types of connection of KSh with the pipeline. This can be a coupling connection (well suited for DHW systems), welded and fitting.

The main element of ball valves is a ball. It can be floating, used for small diameters no more than 200mm. And the second type is a ball in supports, which helps to reduce the cost of high power drive mechanisms and efforts to rotate the ball.

Ball valves may have special appointment. For example, three-way ball valves for the ability to switch the flow of the working medium in several other directions, ball valves with body heating and ball valves that allow you to control leaks.

The pressure of ball valves can reach 16MPa and start from the lowest. Conditional pass varies from 10mm to 800mm and more.

Ball valves are one of the most reliable and proven types of valves. They allow you to save not only on maintenance, because they can serve without replacement for several decades, but they are also very simple in terms of operation. Choosing a ball valve famous brands and specialized manufacturers, you can not worry about the condition of pipeline systems after installing these ball valves in them. Moreover, ball valves are supplied with all related documents and certificates.

“At the facilities of OAO Gazprom, practically the entire list of shut-off and control valves existing today is operated. First of all - cranes. In the 50s and 60s, these were the famous cork taps. And today, mainly ball valves.
N. F. Mutallim-Zade

“If we compare the crane with other types pipe fittings, then we can talk about this topic for a very long time.
Denis Rysenko, CEO ALSO

The name of the inventor who first introduced into the pipeline system ball valve, is not known for certain. However, based on the facts of primary sources, the ball valve, in the form in which it is familiar to us, was patented at the beginning of the second half of the twentieth century in the United States. Due to the low tightness, the product did not manage to take its place in the sales market. Only in the mid-1970s and 1980s, when fluoroplastic began to be used as a sealant, did ball valves become widely used in industry. And if we take today, the process of development, improvement and implementation of ball valves does not stop at all, allowing us to achieve perfect results for your area of ​​application.

Scope of ball valves

Ball valves are a universal type of pipeline fittings. The scope of ball valves is almost any working medium, the material of the product can be both steel and plastic or brass, according to the type of attachment to the pipeline, the ball valve can be flanged, threaded, and also for welding. All this, as well as a rich range of manufacturers, allowed them to take a leading position among shut-off and control valves in the following areas of application:

• Department of Housing and Utilities;
• heating networks and energy;
• main gas and oil pipelines;
• chemical, oil, gas processing, food and other industries;
• water treatment and water treatment systems.

Speaking about the application environment of ball valves, we can safely list almost all currently used in industry: water, steam, compressed air, food components, oil, natural gas, gas-liquid oil products, liquid hydrocarbons, as well as liquid and gaseous aggressive media.

Climatic version of ball valves:

• U1 (from -45 °С to +50 °С);
• UHL1 (from -60 °С to +50 °С).

Types of ball valves:

• according to the execution of the body
  • collapsible
  • all-welded
• by connection type
  • flanged
  • threaded
  • for welding
• management
  • manual
  • electric drive
  • pneumatic
  • pneumohydraulic

The development of technologies, the tightening of requirements for equipping enterprises, the development of the range of manufacturing plants and, of course, healthy competition, led to the rise of ball valves by one step with valves and gate valves, until recently the main leaders in shut-off and control valves. And some aspects even allowed to bypass their competitors.

For example, at valves, after a certain period of operation, scale is deposited and particulate matter on parts subject to friction. Most notably this shortcoming manifests itself in hot water and heating systems.

With valves, things are even a little worse. This is a relatively weak tightness of the valve, and frequent failures, and a limited closing speed of the valve, and large weight and size dimensions (from 1.5 to 4 masses of a ball valve with one pipeline diameter).

Advantages of ball valves

Ball valves are spared from the above disadvantages. Moreover, among the advantages of using ball valves over other types of shut-off and control valves, one can also note:

• high degree of tightness;
• near-zero hydraulic losses;
• high opening-closing speed;
• possibility of regulation;
• the ability to install stem extensions on cranes during underground installation, as well as when installing the product out of reach of the control;
• high reliability and maintainability.

Ball valves are produced in a fairly wide range of nominal values: - DN 6-1400 mm, PN up to 700 kgf/cm 2 .

Ball valves - manufacturers

Thanks to the tremendous efforts in this industry, such Western companies like BROEN, NAVAL, SSP, HOKE in Europe and the USA, the introduction of ball valves has become widespread. And today, domestic factories are not far behind the leading European firms, which, in spite of everything, worked to raise and strengthen own production. For example, in the USSR in 1990 no more than 15 thousand steel ball valves left the assembly line, in 1999 in Russia - over 70 thousand. In 2011, according to rough estimates, more than 2 million units were manufactured. Among domestic valve manufacturers, one can single out the ChelyabinskSpetsGrazhdanStroy plant, which produces ball valves under the LD trademark, as well as the NEMEN company.

Starting the topic of the quality of the pipeline network, it should be recalled that attention should be paid not only to pipes, but also to pipeline and connecting fittings. Let us dwell in more detail on the shut-off valves, which today are used almost everywhere, in most pipeline networks that are designed for the distribution and transportation of gaseous and liquid media. fittings shut-off type allows you to open, close and redirect the flow of the working medium passing through the pipeline.

Over the years, valves have changed significantly, going from conventional valves to ball valves. The installation of ball valves today is the most popular in the field of pipeline valves.

Scope of ball valves

The scope of application of ball valves is quite wide:

The principle of operation of the ball valve

Ball valves are designed to completely shut off the working flow and are not applicable for its regulation.

Replacing a ball valve will not take many years if it is used for its intended purpose and according to the rules set out in the instructions.

The principle of operation of a ball-type valve is based on shutting off the working flow by means of a locking element, which is a ball with a through cylindrical hole.

During the rotation of the ball around its axis, which is perpendicular to the fixed body of the crane, there is an overlap or opening of access to the working flow.

Regarding the shape of the hole, it is not always round (rectangular, oval, trapezoidal). The size (diameter) of the opening of the locking element also varies depending on the application of the valve and the pipeline network.

The locking element of a ball-type valve, depending on the purpose and dimensions of the valves, can be sealed mainly in two ways.

Namely:

1. ball on supports - for large diameter cranes;
2. floating ball - for small cranes.

Sometimes valves with additional sealing rings are also applicable.

Closing and opening of ball valves is performed by turning the handle by 90°.

Ball valve classification

According to the method of fastening, ball valves are divided as follows:

• Socket ball valve - most often used for equipment of gas pipelines, water and heating systems public and residential buildings.

They are small, practical and convenient. Coupling ball valves should be used for installation in pipes with a diametrical section not exceeding 45 mm. For pipes with large dimensions, it is better to use flanged ball valves.

• Flanged ball valve - applicable in pipes with a diameter of more than 45 mm. The use of seals during the installation of gaskets ensures high strength and tightness of the connection between the pipe and the ball valve.

Flanged ball valves have high strength and adapted to heavy loads. They, in turn, are divided into collapsible, consisting of 2 parts, and non-collapsible - with a cast body. Flanged ball valves are excellent for those pipelines whose working medium is gas or oil.

• Ball valve is widely used in food, chemical and other industries. Ball valves of this type are easy to use due to the possibility of multiple dismantling.
• Welded ball valve - unlike other types of ball valves, it is installed in closed places that do not provide for the dismantling of the valve.

A welded ball valve is installed by welding, so the installation of ball valves of this type should be carried out exclusively by specialists. Most often, a welded ball valve is used in construction.

• Combined ball valve - a valve, the design of which involves several methods of its attachment to pipes.

Classification of ball valves according to the number of branch pipes:

• globe valves;
• angle ball valves;
• three - and multi-way ball valves.

The latter are used to mix and redirect work environments.

Separately, it is worth highlighting the ball valve for underground installation.

The difference between this type of valve is that it has a high valve axis, which allows the use of a ball valve in underground pipelines. In this case, the axis with the handle of the crane protrudes above the ground and makes it possible to shut off and turn on the flow in the underground pipeline.

Advantages of ball valves

Ball valves are very compact and at the same time very practical, besides they are attractive from an aesthetic point of view. They are convenient to use, you can instantly block the access of the working flow by slightly turning the handle by 90 °, which is especially important in case of small sudden accidents, such as a gas leak or a water pipe leak.

Among other things, ball valves have high wear resistance and are made from materials that are not subject to corrosion. They tolerate interaction with aggressive environments well.

In addition, they are quite affordable in cost, in comparison with analogues for this purpose. Thanks to all these advantages, ball valves have become leaders in the valve market.

Ball valve installation

How to install a ball valve

So:

1. Before installing the crane, it is necessary to determine the place of its installation, guided by the convenience of its operation at this place and the absence of interference with other devices. When choosing a faucet, you should find out the diameter of the pipe and the thread pitch to which the faucet will be connected.
2. Ball valve can be flanged various types– with internal and external thread. Before installation, it is necessary to determine the type of valve suitable for a particular application - with two external, two internal, one internal and one external thread.

If it is planned to install taps to a battery or water heater, then a tap with internal and external threads is suitable for this case.

In addition, there is an arrow on the tap indicating the direction of water movement. This condition must be observed.

1. After screwing the tap into place, you need to check again for the moment there is no interference with turning the handle. When connecting a valve with a closed thread on the flange to a pipe with an open thread, the FUM tape must be wound clockwise (looking at the pipe opening).

A layer of tape should be wound so that the winding of the tap is tight. Next, you need to let water in at the junction with the pipe or not.

If this is not observed, then the installation of the ball valve is carried out correctly.

The diameter of the orifice of the ball valve ball, as a rule, is commensurate with the internal diameter of the pipeline on which the valve is installed. In this case, the valve is called full bore.

When the working flow passes through a fully open valve, the hydraulic losses are very small, they are approximately the same as when the medium moves through a pipe section equal in length to the body of a ball valve. This is several times less in comparison with other types of valves.

This advantage has made the ball valve the main shut-off device applicable to the linear parts of gas pipelines.