The remarkable feature of a ball valve lies in the fact that a 90° rotation of the ball can achieve the function of on-off control. When the through-hole on the ball is parallel to the axis of the pipeline, the valve is open; if it is perpendicular, it is closed. This design makes it have a small operating torque and a fast response speed. 

Its core component is a spherical body with a through-hole, which is driven to rotate by a valve stem. 

Its two structural forms 

Floating ball valve: The ball is floating, the structure is simple, and the cost is low. It is generally used in working conditions with a pipe diameter of DN ≤ 200mm and a pressure rating of PN ≤ 1.6MPa. 

Fixed ball valve: The ball is fixed by the upper and lower bearings, ensuring stable sealing and low torque. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for high-pressure and large-diameter pipelines. 

Its two sealing methods 

Soft seals: For instance, those made of PTFE material can ensure zero leakage. 

Hard seal: The design of metal overlay welding can also achieve zero leakage. Moreover, the hard-sealed ball valve can handle media containing particles. 

Its core function 

Cut-off function: It can quickly cut off the flow of the medium, and is very suitable for use in emergency cutting scenarios. 

Flow direction switching: Ball valves in the form of T or L shapes can change the flow of the medium by merging, splitting, or reversing the direction. 

Flow regulation: The V-shaped opening ball valve can precisely control the flow rate. However, it should be noted that traditional ball valves are not recommended for long-term throttling. 

Its ability to adapt to special working conditions 

High-pressure hydraulic ball valve: It can withstand pressures of several tens of megapascals and can be seen in various fields such as construction machinery and aerospace. 

Electric ball valve: It can be remotely and automatically controlled through a 4-20mA signal. 

Its typical application fields 

Petrochemical industry: Used for cutting corrosive media and high-pressure pipelines. 

Urban water supply: The three-way ball valve here is responsible for achieving the division and convergence of the water distribution network. 

Power system: Used for rapid opening and closing as well as regulation of steam pipelines.