Ball Valves: Which is Right for Your Project?

Ball valves are one of the more durable valves available, making them a top choice among control valve suppliers for shutoff applications in water systems.  The design allows for much variation, and several different types of SB valve designs are available.  Choosing the right one depends on your project and your needs.

Materials and Construction
Ball valves are intended for very high-pressure water systems and thus must be made of a strong material and with a construction that can endure a great deal of force.  Most SB valves are made of metal or plastic, with some metal valves utilizing a ceramic ball.  Chrome plating makes the balls more durable.

The style of construction can be one-piece, three-piece, split body, welded or top-entry.  These variations do not affect the valve’s utility or suitability for particular projects; they’re only different ways of producing the same device.

Bore Styles
The bore (or hole) running through the ball that allows for the flow of water, can have several variations that may influence the valve’s function and suitability for different applications.  A full port valve has a bore the same diameter as the pipeline, which allows for less friction loss but costs slightly more.  A reduced port valve, which has a bore smaller in diameter than the rest of the pipe, is more affordable but causes reduced velocity of flow while going through the valve.

SB valves also come in 3-way and 4-way port styles, meaning that the valve is T-shaped or L-shaped to allow for connection to multiple pipes.  The flow to certain pipes can then be shut off and redirected to others.