Working principle of ball valve

A ball valve is a type of valve that uses a ball-shaped disk to control the flow of fluid through it. The working principle of a ball valve is based on the concept of quarter-turn rotation of a ball-shaped disk within a valve body to control the flow of fluid.

The valve body of a ball valve consists of an inlet port and an outlet port, with a hollow ball-shaped disk (the valve element) located within the valve body. The ball-shaped disk has a hole through its center, which is aligned with the inlet and outlet ports of the valve when the valve is in the open position.

When the valve is rotated by 90 degrees (a quarter turn), the hole in the ball-shaped disk is no longer aligned with the inlet and outlet ports, which blocks the flow of fluid. When the valve is rotated back to its original position, the hole in the ball-shaped disk once again aligns with the inlet and outlet ports, allowing fluid to flow through the valve.

The ball-shaped disk of a ball valve is usually made of metal or plastic, and it is supported by two or more seats (sealing surfaces) within the valve body. When the valve is in the closed position, the seats form a tight seal around the ball-shaped disk to prevent fluid from leaking through the valve.

Ball valves are commonly used in applications where fast, reliable shut-off is required, such as in pipelines for water, gas, and oil. They are also used in applications where the flow of fluid needs to be regulated, such as in the control of water flow in irrigation systems.