What is the difference between a ball valve and a flanged ball valve?

1. What are the advantages of flanged ball valves?

BSTV are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.

Flanged ball valve is a relatively new type of ball valve, and its own structure has some unique advantages, such as no friction to the switch, small wear on the seal, and small opening and closing torque.

The flanged ball valve is equipped with a multi-turn electric actuator, and the medium can be adjusted. It is widely used in petroleum, chemical industry, urban water supply and drainage, etc. Ball valve and gate valve belong to the same type of valve, the difference is that the closing part of the flanged ball valve is a sphere, which rotates around the center line of the valve body to open and close.

Ball valves are mainly used to cut off, distribute and change the flow direction of the medium in the pipeline. A flanged ball valve is defined as a valve whose opening and closing member (ball) is driven by a valve stem and rotates around the stem axis.

The ball valve flange type and gate valve belong to the same type of valve, the difference is that its closing part is a ball that rotates around the centerline of the valve body to open and close.

The three-piece ball valve is a new type of valve that has been widely used in recent years. The ball valve is mainly used to cut off, distribute and change the flow direction of the medium in the pipeline. The V-shaped opening ball valve also has a good flow adjustment function.

Flanged ball valve has the following advantages:

1. The fluid resistance is small, and its resistance coefficient is equal to the resistance coefficient of the pipe section of the same length.

2. Simple structure, small size and light weight.

3. Tight and reliable. At present, the sealing surface material of flange type valve is widely made of plastic with good sealing performance, and it is also widely used in vacuum system.

4. Easy to operate, quick to open and close, just rotate 90° from fully open to fully closed, which is convenient for remote control.

5. Easy maintenance, simple structure of ball valve, generally movable sealing ring, easy disassembly and replacement.

6. When fully open or fully closed, the sealing surface of the ball and the valve seat is isolated from the medium, and the sealing surface of the valve will not be eroded when the medium passes through.

7. Wide range of applications, from a few millimeters to several meters in diameter, from high vacuum to high pressure.

&#;. Structural characteristics of flanged ball valve

1. No friction when opening and closing. This function completely solves the problem that the traditional valve affects the sealing due to the friction between the sealing surfaces.

2. Top installation structure. The valve installed on the pipeline can be directly inspected and maintained online, which can effectively reduce the downtime of the device and reduce the cost.

3. Single valve seat design. It eliminates the problem that the abnormal increase of medium pressure in the valve cavity affects the safety of use.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Flanged Ball Valve.

4. Low torque design. The specially designed valve stem can be easily opened and closed with a small handle.

5. Wedge-shaped sealing structure. Through the mechanical force provided by the valve stem, the ball wedge is pressed against the valve seat to seal the valve, so that the sealing performance of the valve is not affected by the change of pipeline pressure difference, and reliable sealing performance is guaranteed under various working conditions.

6. Self-cleaning structure of sealing surface. When the ball tilts away from the valve seat, the fluid in the pipeline passes through the sealing surface of the ball evenly at 360 degrees, which not only eliminates the local scouring of the valve seat by the high-speed fluid, but also washes away the accumulation on the sealing surface of the flanged ball valve. for self-cleaning purposes.

When choosing a new ball valve, one of the first decisions is how to terminate the end connections. Should you go with a flanged or threaded design? The method you select can significantly impact installation, maintenance, performance and overall costs.

Both options have their advantages depending on the application. But they are not interchangeable. It&#;s critical to understand the key distinctions to make the optimal choice for your piping system. Let&#;s compare the two.

Flange Ball Valve 

As the name implies, a flange end ball valve utilizes a flanged end connection instead of threaded piping. The valve body has protruding hub collars with an integral flange on each end. This ball valve flange type contains a circular pattern of bolt holes.

To install, the flange faces are bolted and gasketed together on adjoining pieces of equipment or pipe flanges. This creates a rigid, straight pipe run without threaded joints.

The dimensional standards from organizations like ANSI, ASME, JIS and others define precise measurements for flange diameters, bolt patterns/counts, pressure ratings and facing types to ensure compatibility.

Advantages:

• Allow easy removal for maintenance or replacement without cutting the pipe
• Create a straight-line installation ideal for multi-plane piping configurations
• Have a solid, blowout-proof design rated for higher pressures
• Are available in a wide range of metallurgies for any service
• Provide a leak-tight seal when properly tightened

Disadvantages:

• More labor-intensive installation and gasket replacement
• Generally more expensive than threaded valves

Threaded Ball Valves 

On the other hand, threaded ball valves have tapered or straight threads machined directly into the valve end connections. These mate with corresponding threaded fittings on the pipe ends.

NPT (National Pipe Taper) is one of the most common thread forms. The tapered thread design allows an interference fit to create a pressure seal. Threaded joints require no additional gaskets or hardware.

Advantages:

• Quick, low-cost installation with basic tools
• More compact form factor versus flanges
• Disassembly is simple by unscrewing union fittings
• Generally lower-cost than flanged valves

Disadvantages:

• Weaker than flanges and prone to stripping or cross-threading
• Less blowout-proof &#; mainly limited to lower pressure services
• Metallurgy options tend to be more limited
• Installation requires cutting pipe runs for tight spaces

Flanged vs Threaded &#; Which Style is Better? 

There is no universal &#;better&#; choice &#; it depends on the specific application requirements. In general:

• Threaded connection works well for low-pressure utility services like air, water, inert gas lines
• Flanged is preferred for critical, hazardous, high-pressure and high-temperature services
• Flanges are used where frequent maintenance is required with easy removal
• Threaded suits permanent, rigid installations in tight spaces

Many facilities utilize a mix of both threaded and flanged ball valves based on their piping system needs.

Conclusion

Whether you opt for flanged or threaded ball valves, ensure they are sourced from a trusted manufacturer that adheres to published standards. This guarantees compatibility and optimal performance.

Xintai Valve Company produces a wide range of both flanged and threaded end ball valves to global quality specifications. Our experts can guide your selection based on your operating conditions and requirements. Don&#;t compromise your piping system integrity &#; consult with Xintai on your next ball valve purchase.

Are you interested in learning more about Industrial Swing Check Valve? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!