‌Floating ball valve‌ is a specialized type of valve where the ball is unsupported by an axis, relying solely on two valve seats for support. The valve stem is connected to the ball for movement, allowing the ball to be in a "floating" state. Under the pressure of the medium, the ball can produce a certain displacement and press tightly against the sealing surface at the outlet end, thereby ensuring the sealing integrity of the outlet.

Working Principle

The working principle of a floating ball valve is as follows: When the handle (or other actuating device) drives the valve stem to rotate, the ball can rotate freely between the two valve seats. When the ball's bore aligns with the valve body passage bore, the ball valve is in the open position, allowing fluid to flow through; when the ball rotates 90°, the ball's bore is perpendicular to the valve body passage bore, the ball valve is closed, and the ball is pushed towards the valve outlet seat by the fluid pressure, achieving a valve seal.

Structural Features

The floating ball valve with flange features the following structural characteristics:

Unique valve seat sealing structure: Utilizes dual-line sealed valve seats for reliable valve sealing.

Professional valve seat machining: Ensures low friction coefficient of the valve seat, resulting in reduced torque required for valve operation.

Handle Valve Rod: The rod head features a flat square structure, ensuring the handle aligns with the flow hole direction of the ball.

Locking Device: Prevents accidental operation of valve switches.

Valve Stem Anti-Fly Structure: Prevents the valve stem from being ejected under high pressure.

Static Dissipative Design: Prevents static sparks from causing accidents.

‌Structure with no external leakage through the middle flange‌: Leak prevention.

Fire-resistant structure: Protects the valve from damage during a fire.

Application Scenarios and Pros and Cons

Floating ball valves are widely used in general working mediums such as water, solvents, acids, natural gas, as well as harsh conditions like oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, methane, and ethylene. They are also suitable for industries such as chemicals, oil, natural gas, metallurgy, and for long-distance natural gas pipelines with high sulfur content, heavy impurities, and severe corrosion.

Advantages include:

Simple structure: easy to manufacture and maintain.

Seal integrity: Low fluid resistance, quick opening and closing.

Multiple additional structures: such as locking devices, anti-static devices, etc., to enhance safety and reliability.

Shortcomings include:

‌High friction: prone to wear and leakage.‌

High-Temperature and High-Pressure Environment Limitations: Sealing surface materials restrict its use in high-temperature and high-pressure environments.