How Do Floating Ball Valves Work? [Floating vs. Trunnion ...

In the world of valves, ball valves are known for their compact, durable design and reliable, fast acting on/off control. Ball valves utilize a ball with a hole (known as a port) drilled through the center to control the flow of media. The ball is rotated 90 degrees to align the port with the valve body and allow media to flow through the valve. To close the valve, the ball is rotated 90 degrees back to the closed position. All ball valves rely on the use of two seats, usually made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), to hold the ball in place and create a tight seal to prevent media from leaking through the valve.

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Floating and trunnion are two basic types of ball valve designs. Floating ball valves are the most common type of valve used in industrial piping systems. These valves are designed so that as the seats begin to wear the pressure from the media flowing through the valve will force the ball against the downstream seat to maintain a tight seal.

Floating Ball Valve

In trunnion ball valves, the ball is fixed in place by bearings that prohibit it from floating downstream. A spring-loaded seat mechanism ensures that the valve remains leak-tight as the seat inevitably begins to wear down.

Trunnion Valve

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In this post, we&#;ll cover the details of floating ball valve design and its applications, as well as the situations in which you might choose trunnion-mounted over floating.

When a line&#;s pressure is on the rise, the sealing elements of the ball valve are more tightly pressed together. In parallel, the ball and seat are subject to stronger forces. This scenario would not represent an issue for a device like a check valve. However, in ball valves, it could bring serious trouble. Why? Because they are central process fixtures that must remain operable, even amid a high differential pressure condition. 

For valves, a high-pressure setting is synonymous with high operating torque and a larger manual effort. So, when designers work within a high-pressure range, they may end up with calculations for lengthy handles and expensive gear requirements. Appropriately enough, the handle&#;s design can be bound by standards such as ISO and API 6D. Both provide rules on how to prevent collisions with other piping elements.

One way to decrease the operating torque is by reducing the friction coefficient of the material pair, i.e., using modified plastics (PTFE-filled PEEK). Though the results are not always as majorly significant as needed. 

Another option is to assess other valve components and take action from the findings. As an idea, look at the stem. Big stem diameters increase the size of the valve&#;s body, raising operating torque (and costs). 

The target is to analyze all measures that add protection to the sealing elements. And the effective way to do it is by lowering the operating torque and impact forces. Both are critical to extending the valve&#;s lifespan, especially in high-pressure conditions. 

That&#;s why knowing the types of ball valves is decisive in getting the design right.

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