What is the difference between an all-welded ball valve?
Industrial pipelines operate under constant load. Pressure drops, temperature fluctuations, vibrations, and aggressive environments gradually increase equipment wear. In such conditions, the tightness of the joints is especially important. Even a small leak can cause the production process to stop, damage equipment, or increase operating costs.
That is why an all-welded ball valve is used in many facilities. Unlike collapsible structures, this type of reinforcement has a fully welded body without detachable joints. This helps to reduce the risk of depressurization and makes the equipment resistant to intensive use.
The main purpose of the device is to quickly open or completely block the flow of the working medium. The design is suitable for transporting liquids, gases, petroleum products, steam and other compounds used in industry.
How does an all-welded ball valve work?
The main working element of the equipment is a metal ball with a hole inside. When the hole is positioned in the direction of movement of the medium, the flow passes freely. After turning the handle 90 degrees, the channel closes and the movement stops.
The key difference is considered to be the case design. The all-welded ball valve is manufactured with a hermetically welded metal base. This solution reduces the number of potentially vulnerable areas and helps to increase valve reliability in high-pressure environments.
Carbon and stainless steels are usually used to make the case. The material is selected depending on the operating conditions. For example, when in contact with aggressive substances, corrosion-resistant alloys are in demand. More versatile grades of steel can be used for general industrial highways.
Additional tightness is provided by internal sealing elements. They reduce the wear of the locking mechanism and allow you to maintain the overlap density even after prolonged operation.
Another feature is considered to be resistance to external loads. Due to the absence of a large number of connecting elements, the all-welded ball valve better tolerates hydraulic shocks, vibration and temperature fluctuations.
What are the advantages of a welded structure?
One of the main advantages of such equipment is considered to be a high level of reliability. The fewer connections inside the housing, the lower the chance of leaks. This is especially important in facilities where long-term uninterrupted operation is required.
