When designing industrial pipelines, engineers take into account not only the characteristics of the working environment, but also the operating characteristics of the equipment. Maximum reliability of connections is becoming a priority at many facilities. This is especially true for highways that operate under high pressure, are subject to constant vibrations, or transport dangerous substances.
In such conditions, welded ball valves are widely used. This installation method involves connecting the fittings directly to the pipeline by welding. As a result, a solid, all-in-one connection is formed, designed for long-term operation without regular maintenance.
This design allows you to reduce the number of potentially vulnerable areas of the system. Therefore, welded fittings are widely used in the oil and gas industry, energy, chemical industry and other areas where pipeline reliability is of paramount importance.
In addition, the absence of detachable connections helps to reduce the likelihood of leaks and maintain tightness even under significant mechanical stress.
How are the welded ball valves arranged?
According to the principle of operation, such fittings practically do not differ from other types of ball valves. Inside the case there is a metal ball with a through hole. When the opening coincides with the direction of movement of the working medium, the flow passes freely. After turning the locking element by 90 degrees, the movement stops completely.
The main feature lies precisely in the installation method. Welded ball valves are equipped with pipes designed for welding to the pipeline. After installation, a single structure is formed without additional flanges, threaded connections or adapters.
Carbon and stainless steels are more often used for the manufacture of the case. The choice of material depends on the operating conditions, temperature, pressure and composition of the transported medium. If the equipment works with aggressive substances, corrosion-resistant alloys are used that can retain their properties for a long time.
The tightness is ensured not only by the quality of the welded joint, but also by the internal sealing system. They reduce the wear of the locking mechanism and allow you to maintain the density of the flow overlap even after many years of operation.
Modern models can be equipped with a manual drive, gearbox, electric or pneumatic actuator. Due to this, the equipment is successfully used both in small production areas.,