When it comes to plumbing, there are numerous types of valves available for controlling the flow of water or other liquids. The ball valve is a common type of valve used in plumbing systems. In this blog post, we’ll look at what a ball valve is and why it’s used.
What Is a Ball Valve?
A ball valve is a quarter-turn valve that controls the flow of water or other liquids by pivoting a hollow, perforated ball. When the ball is open, a hole in it aligns with the intake and output ports, allowing fluid to pass through. When you spin the handle 90 degrees, the hole in the ball aligns with two slots on either side of the valve body, preventing fluid from passing through.
How Does a Ball Valve Work?
A ball valve uses an internal mechanism to revolve a hollow metal ball inside the valve body. When the metal ball is in its open configuration, one or more holes are drilled into it, which correspond to an inlet or outlet port. When the handle on top of the valve is twisted 90 degrees, two slots on either side of the valve body align and prevent fluid from passing through.
Advantages of Using a Ball Valve
One advantage of employing a ball valve over other types of valves is that they are simpler to operate and maintain. They are also very reliable and robust due to their simple design, making them perfect for use in plumbing systems where dependability and durability are crucial considerations. Furthermore, their quarter-turn function allows for tight shutdown capabilities, making them perfect for applications requiring precision control over fluid flow.
Disadvantages of Using a Ball Valve
The biggest downside of employing a ball valve is that their complicated internal operations make them difficult to replace if damaged or worn out. They are also prone to leaking if not properly maintained since dirt and debris can accumulate inside them over time, causing them to become stuck or malfunction. Finally, they are unsuitable for applications that require high pressure control since they may fail or leak.
Conclusion
To summarize, a ball valve is a quarter-turn valve with an internal mechanism that turns a hollow metal ball inside its body to control fluid flow. They offer various advantages, including being simple to use and maintain, as well as having tight shutdown capabilities, but they also have some drawbacks, such as being difficult to repair if damaged or worn out, and not being ideal for high pressure applications.
