What You Need to Know about High Temperature Ball Valve

What is a high-temperature ball valve? 

Ball valves that can operate at temperatures exceeding 400 oC are known as high-temperature valves. Strong metallic materials with a high melting point should be used to make high-temperature ball valves. As the temperature rises, certain metallic materials, including aluminum alloys, begin to deteriorate. It is not advised to utilize materials like bronze as high-temperature ball valves since they change their characteristics with increasing temperature, which may affect the fluid they are controlling. The materials used to produce a high-temperature ball valve should be the first consideration when choosing one. This is the anticipated operating temperature of that high-temperature ball valve, which needs to be in harmony with the valve's body and internal parts.

Additionally, extremely durable metallic elements with a high melting point must be used to construct the valve's internal components. Applications for high-temperature ball valves include the metallurgy, fertilizer, chemical, petrochemical, and electric power sectors. Carbon steel and stainless steel, which have high melting points of 1425°C to 1540°C and 1400°C to 1530°C, respectively, are the most often utilized metallic materials that provide dependable operation when employed to create high-temperature ball valves. Ball valves for high temperatures can be actuated manually or using an actuator. Either bolts and nuts or welding are used to attach the valves to the pipeline.
 

How does a high-temperature ball valve work? 

A high-temperature ball valve is made up of a ball with a bore in the center of it. The actuator, handwheel, or hand lever is used to operate the high-temperature ball valve. For manual valves, the handwheel and hand lever are utilized, but for actuated ball valves, the actuator is employed. Through a part called the stem, the handwheel or actuator is attached to the ball. A high-temperature ball valve is opened by rotating the actuator, handwheel, or hand lever. Through the valve stem, the ball receives the rotational force, which rotates the ball bore and aligns it with the pipeline. When the ball bore in the high-temperature ball valve becomes collinear, the fluid flows through the pipeline without being obstructed by the ball. In order to close the high-temperature ball valve, the actuator, hand lever, or handwheel must rotate in the opposite direction from the one in which it opened. The high-temperature ball valve's ball bore rotates as a result, straightening up the pipeline. The high-temperature ball valve in this instance is considered to be in a closed state since the ball prevents the fluid from passing through the pipeline.
 

Types of high-temperature ball valve

Two-piece high-temperature ball valve 

The body of this high-temperature ball valve is composed of two parts. Threads, welding, or bolts and nuts are used to join the two sections. In a high-temperature ball valve, the ball and one end joint are made up of one of the two pieces, while the interior components and the other end joint are made up of the other piece. Due to its ability to be disassembled for inspection, cleaning, repair, and maintenance, the two-piece high-temperature ball valve is widely used in both commercial and industrial settings. In comparison to other ball valves, this one is also lightweight and tiny.
 

Three-piece high-temperature ball valve 

This three-piece ball valve can withstand extreme temperatures. The valve body and two end joints make up the three parts. As seen in the illustration below, bolts and nuts hold the three components together. The three-piece high-temperature ball valve is attached to the pipeline by threading, bolting, or welding its ends. When attached to the pipeline, three-piece high-temperature ball valves are simple to clean, examine, and fix without removing them. The three-piece high-temperature ball valve may be easily and successfully cleaned, making it appropriate for use in applications requiring high levels of hygiene or regular repair and maintenance, such as foods, drinks, and medicines.
 

Side entry high-temperature ball valve 

The illustration below illustrates how these high-temperature ball valves are put together from the sides. Large, robust metallic ball valves designed to function in high-temperature and high-pressure applications are known as side entry high-temperature ball valves. Applications for side entrance high-temperature ball valves include steam power plants, oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. Two or three parts make up side entrance high-temperature ball valves. The forging process is used to create the parts. Following production, the components are put together using bolts and nuts to create the finished side entry high-temperature ball valve. A side entrance ball valve's ability to be examined, maintained, and fixed in the field is one of its benefits. Additionally, it is easy to align the valve's internal components.
 

Top entry high-temperature ball valve 

This ball valve, which is high-temperature, is put together from the top. Making top entrance ball valves involves the use of the casting process. By doing this, the likelihood of fluid leakage is decreased. On the upper side, the valve body and bonnet are joined. High temperature ball valves with top entry facilitate inspection, cleaning, and repair from above without having to take the valve out of the pipeline. To make sure they are free of flaws that could cause fluid leakage while in use, top entry high-temperature ball valves are put through non-destructive testing. The pipeline is joined to the top entry ball valves by welding or bolting. Applications that require robust, fire-proof valves or those where frequent cleaning may preserve high standards of cleanliness can benefit from the use of top entrance ball valves.
 

Welded body high-temperature ball valves 

Ball valves built via welding are known as welded body high-temperature ball valves. All of the parts of this high-temperature ball valve are joined together by welding to form the body. To make sure there are no flaws that could result in fluid leakage, a non-destructive test is performed on the welded joints around the valve body after the body has been welded.

The fact that welded body high-temperature ball valves cannot be cleaned, fixed, or examined in the field is one of its primary drawbacks. Subsea and gas transmission systems are two examples of applications where these valves are utilized when no maintenance is anticipated.
 

Full port high-temperature ball valve 

This ball valve is high-temperature and has a ball bore diameter that matches the pipe diameter. Because a complete port high-temperature ball valve doesn't lose friction, it uses less energy. A full port high-temperature ball valve is easier to clean because of its design. The problem with this valve is that it has a larger ball and valve body than a typical port valve. Therefore, compared to conventional or reduced bore valves, full port high-temperature ball valves are more costly. When minimal fluid resistance is needed, such as in pump suction pipelines where a drop in pressure impacts pump operation, full port high-temperature ball valves are utilized. Additionally, the full port high-temperature ball valve can be used in situations where there may be particulates in the fluid that could accumulate and block the valve.
 

Reduced port high-temperature ball valves 

The ball bore diameter of these high-temperature ball valves is smaller than the pipe diameter. Because of the unstreamlined flow caused by the pipe and ball bore's different diameters, reduce bore high-temperature ball valves exhibit considerable frictional losses and turbulence. High-temperature ball valves with reduced ports can be used where flow turbulence and pressure loss are not significant issues. The primary benefit of employing a reduced port high-temperature ball valve is that it is less expensive than its full port equivalent due to its smaller size.
 

Applications of high-temperature ball valves 

• Utilized in the crude oil industry for intermittent applications requiring high temperatures to separate various crude oil products.
• They are employed to produce energy in steam power plants.
• Oil and gas industries..
• Production of fertilizer. 
• Metallurgical steel production processes. 
• Food and beverages processing. 
• Pharmaceutical industries due to their simplicity of cleaning.

Advantages of high-temperature ball valves 

• Withstand high temperatures without being distorted by thermal heat. 
• Durable. 
• They are versatile since they can be applied to a variety of situations.
• Cleaned, repaired, and inspected. 
• Quick to operate. 
• The strength of these valves allows them to tolerate high pressure.
• They are completely sealed and do not leak fluid. 
• Both manual and actuator operation are possible. 

Disadvantages of high-temperature ball valves 

• Not suitable for throttling applications. 
• These valves produce water hammers and overpressure issues since they close and open quickly.
• Solids tend to clog the cavities around seats and balls, increasing opening/closing torque and possibly leading to valve failure.

Conclusion

High-temperature ball valves are capable of operating at temperatures as high as 400 oC without experiencing thermal or chemical changes. They are composed of strong, high-melting-point metallic components. Carbon steel and stainless steel are examples of such materials. Both manual and actuated valves are possible. Even when employed to regulate the flow of flammable materials, high-temperature ball valves are fireproof to guarantee that they can tolerate high temperatures. They are either welded to the pipeline or fastened to it with threads, bolts, and nuts. Numerous industries, including the metallurgy, chemical, fertilizer, steam power plants, oil and gas, and petrochemical sectors, use these valves. Two-piece, three-piece, side-entry, top-entry, welded-body, full-port, and reduced-port high-temperature ball valves are among the different kinds of high-temperature ball valves. Among the many benefits of high-temperature ball valves are their speedy operation, strength, durability, adaptability, fire resistance, repairability, and resistance to leaks.