Ball valves are a critical part of industries including oil and gas, manufacturing, chemical, and water treatment. They even have residential uses.
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With so many different applications, it’s not a surprise to find many different types of ball valves. These include trunnion ball valves, welded ball valves, a metal seated ball valve, and more.
Find out more about the different types of ball valves. You’ll have the information you need to choose the best ball valve for your application.
Several types of ball valves are available, but they all have some features in common. A ball valve is a quarter-turn shut-off valve. It controls the flow of a liquid or gas.
Ball valves are well-suited for applications with high pressure, high temperatures, and high volume. They open and close quickly. They’re less prone to corrosion and damage than other types of valves.
The main parts of a ball valve are the body, the ball, the seats, and the stem.
The valve body is the primary part of the valve. It contains all of the components to turn the valve on and off.
The ball is a rotary ball with a hole (bore) in the center. Turning the ball 90º will either let the liquid or gas flow through or stop it from flowing.
The seats are discs between the body and the ball. They support the ball and make a seal between it and the body.
The stem connects the ball to an external control mechanism like a handle or lever. Turning the stem turns the rotary ball to open and close the valve.
The different types of ball valves can be classified based on different features. These classifications are based on factors like:
The versatility of ball valves is one of their main advantages.
A ball valve can have two, three, or four ports. Most ball valves are 2-way with an input and an output.
A 3-way valve is either L-shaped or T-shaped. 3-way valves change the flow direction. They let you distribute or mix flows.
4-way valves can be L, T, or X shaped. An X (LL) port has the four ports evenly spaced around the valve chamber. It has two flow positions and a central position with all the ports closed.
The valve housing is either a one-piece, two-piece, or three-piece assembly. Threaded connections or bolts usually hold together assemblies with multiple parts.
A one-piece has the body and end connections made from a single piece of material. You can’t open it for cleaning or maintenance. One-piece assemblies are the most economical option.
You can take the two parts of a two-piece assembly apart for inspection and maintenance. You have to remove it from the pipeline to separate the parts, though.
Three-piece assemblies are the most expensive. You can work on the valve without removing it from the pipeline.
Fully welded ball valves have a body made from forged parts welded together. This design doesn’t have joints, which leaves fewer possible leak paths.
Fully welded ball valves are more compact. They’re stronger but also lighter.
Many welded ball valves use butt welds. This type of weld gives complete fusion and high strength.
You can find ball valves made from several different types of materials. The material for the valve body, ball, and seats are important to consider when choosing a ball valve.
Common materials for valve bodies include:
The choice of material depends on the conditions the valve will be operating in. Common materials for the flow control ball include stainless steel, brass, chrome-plated steel or brass, and PVC.
The valve seats can either be thermoplastic or metal.
Soft seated ball valves use a flexible thermoplastic seat material like PTFE. They provide a very tight seal. They aren’t suitable for abrasive or dirty fluids, though.
Metal seated ball valves will withstand severe service conditions. You can further harden metal seats with coatings like chromium carbide and tungsten carbide.
Ball valves use two types of designs to hold the ball in place. Most ball valves use a floating ball. Trunnion ball design is also an option.
In a floating ball valve, the ball is suspended in the liquid or gas media. Cupped valve seats support the ball. Two sealing rings hold the ball in place.
Trunnion ball valves support the ball on the top and bottom. The ball attaches to the stem on one end and a shaft (the trunnion) on the other end. The additional support reduces the load on the seat rings.
Trunnion ball valves are a good option for large diameter valves or high-pressure environments.
The hole through the ball can have several different shapes. The type of bore affects how the ball valve operates.
A full bore design has a bore diameter the same as the pipe. It reduces friction loss and is easier to clean.
A standard bore ball valve has a smaller port and ball than a full port design. Standard port ball valves restrict the flow somewhat. However, they’re less expensive.
Most ball valves have a reduced bore design. The flow area is smaller than the pipe. These types of ball valves create friction losses.
The friction loss is still small compared to other types of valves, though.
A v-shaped hole in the ball or in the shape of the seat lets you control the flow rate more precisely. The flow characteristic is almost linear. V-shaped ball valves are well-suited for applications with a high flow rate. They provide a minimal drop in pressure and a tight shutoff.
The best ball valve is the one best suited to your application. With all of the options, it can seem challenging to find the right ball valve for your project.
Whether you need trunnion ball valves, welded ball valves, or another type, Anything Flows has what you’re looking for. We offer the highest quality flow control solutions and superior customer support. You can be confident buying ball valves online from our catalog.
Ball valves are critical components in modern piping systems, widely used across oil and gas, chemical processing, water treatment, and HVAC industries. The ball valve body serves as the protective shell that houses the ball, stem, and seals, and its material selection directly influences durability, corrosion resistance, and performance. Choosing the right ball valve body material ensures safe operation, cost efficiency, and long-lasting reliability.
The ball valve body is the main pressure-containing component of a ball valve. It is responsible for supporting all ball valve body parts, including the floating or trunnion-mounted ball, stem, seals, and seats. The strength of the body ball valve determines how well the valve can handle high pressure, temperature, and corrosive media.
Key functions of a ball valve body include:
Enclosing and protecting the valve’s internal components.
Resisting pressure, temperature, and chemical exposure.
Providing connection points for pipelines.
Supporting various configurations, such as split body ball valve design, welded body ball valve, and one piece body ball valve.
Selecting the right ball valve body material is one of the most important decisions for procurement managers and engineers. Each material has unique properties that affect durability, corrosion resistance, maintenance requirements, and cost. Below, we’ll explore the most common materials in detail.
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A carbon steel ball valve body is known for its strength and affordability. It performs well in high-pressure and high-temperature applications, especially in oil and gas pipelines, petrochemical plants, and industrial power generation systems.
Advantages : High strength, wide availability, cost-effective.
Limitations : Limited corrosion resistance unless coated or treated.
Best for : Industrial pipelines, steam, and gas distribution.
The stainless steel ball valve body offers superior resistance to corrosion and oxidation. Grades such as 304 and 316 stainless steel ball valve body are commonly used, with 316 being more resistant to seawater and aggressive chemicals.
Advantages : Excellent corrosion resistance, hygienic, long-lasting.
Limitations : Higher cost than carbon steel.
Best for : Chemical processing, pharmaceutical plants, food and beverage, and water treatment facilities.
Brass ball valve bodies are common in plumbing, HVAC, and residential systems due to their machinability and low cost. Bronze ball valve bodies offer improved resistance to seawater and are preferred for marine applications.
Advantages : Affordable, easy to machine, good corrosion resistance.
Limitations : Not suitable for high-pressure or aggressive chemicals.
Best for : Residential plumbing, HVAC, waterworks, and marine use.
For extremely harsh environments, engineers often choose special alloys such as Monel, Hastelloy, or Duplex stainless steel. These materials are designed to handle aggressive chemicals, offshore drilling, and high-chloride environments.
Advantages : Exceptional corrosion resistance, durability in extreme conditions.
Limitations : Expensive and harder to machine.
Best for : Offshore oil rigs, refineries, and highly corrosive chemical plants.
A plastic ball valve body offers lightweight and corrosion-proof construction, making it ideal for low-pressure and non-metallic systems. Materials like PVC, CPVC, PP, and PVDF are widely used.
Advantages : Corrosion-free, lightweight, cost-effective.
Limitations : Limited pressure and temperature tolerance.
Best for : Irrigation, wastewater treatment, chemical handling, and low-pressure systems.
To better understand material performance, here’s a comparison table of common ball valve body types :
Material Strength Corrosion Resistance Typical Applications Carbon Steel High Low–Medium Oil & Gas, High-Pressure Systems Stainless Steel High Excellent Chemical, Water Treatment, Food Processing Brass Medium Good Plumbing, HVAC Bronze Medium Very Good Marine, Waterworks Alloys (Monel, Hastelloy, Duplex) Very High Excellent Offshore, Harsh Chemical Service Plastics (PVC, CPVC, PVDF) Low–Medium Excellent Irrigation, Corrosive Low-Pressure SystemsThe design of the ball valve body affects maintenance, sealing, durability, and application suitability. Different ball valve body types are available to meet specific industrial needs.
A one piece body ball valve is manufactured as a single housing, making it compact and cost-efficient.
Advantages : Economical, simple design, fewer leak paths.
Limitations : Non-serviceable, must be replaced if damaged.
Applications : Low-pressure water systems, residential and light commercial use.
A split body ball valve design comes in two-piece or three-piece configurations. These allow easy removal of the valve ball and ball valve body seal for inspection or replacement.
Advantages : Serviceable, easy to clean, longer service life.
Limitations : Higher cost than one-piece valves.
Applications : Chemical processing, oil and gas, and industries requiring frequent maintenance.
A welded body ball valve is permanently sealed by welding, eliminating the risk of external leakage. This makes it highly reliable for critical applications.
Advantages : Leak-proof, durable, no external body joints.
Limitations : Not serviceable or repairable.
Applications : Underground pipelines, high-pressure natural gas systems, long-term industrial use.
The extended body ball valve is designed with additional body length to fit thermal insulation or provide clearance in specialized installations.
Advantages : Ideal for extreme temperatures (cryogenic or steam).
Limitations : Larger footprint, higher cost.
Applications : Cryogenic applications, steam plants, and insulated pipelines.
A single body ball valve is a robust and simplified design, often used where compactness and strength are important.
Advantages : Strong construction, easy installation.
Limitations : Fewer maintenance options compared to split body ball valves.
Applications : Standard water and fluid systems, industrial process lines.
When it comes to precision-engineered valves, GOTEB Ball Valve Body stands out.
Leading Manufacturer : GOTEB specializes in high-quality valve components, especially ball valve spheres and bodies.
Customer-Centric Approach : We provide tailored solutions for industries such as oil and gas, chemical processing, and water treatment.
Premium Materials : Every GOTEB ball valve body is crafted from the highest-grade metals, alloys, or plastics.
Rigorous Testing : Each component undergoes strict quality checks to ensure performance and longevity.
Wide Range : From one piece body ball valves to split body ball valves, welded body ball valves, and extended body ball valves, GOTEB delivers solutions that meet diverse needs.