Achieve More Control With Characterized Ball Valves

Characterized ball valves are a type of valve designed to help companies achieve a more accurate level of control when they are manipulating the process media in a piping system.  This type of control is essential for a system to run optimally.  Production, refining, filtering, and circulation require certain essential tasks in their respective processes. These tasks are not achievable unless the correct amount of process media is in the right place at the right time.  Severe problems can develop if the process media flowing through the piping system is not precisely regulated.  Characterized ball valves are a precise, reliable way to ensure that the correct amount of process media is able to flow at the appropriate time.

 

Characterized ball valves are similar to regular ball valves, but they are modified with a v-notch in the ball or a v-notched disc which provides superior flow control over a standard ball valve design. The notching of the ball or disk is a V-shaped aperture, and it can be made out of any material needed to support the application.  The reduction in upstream flow that the v-notch provides converts a regular, full-port ball valve into a Characterized ball valve.  The V- shaped aperture in the ball or disk converts the characterized ball valve into a precise modulating control ball valve. 

 

Characterized ball valves are available in a wide variety of sizes. A company should always consider the specific need for a fixture and location where it will be installed before selecting the valve. Other important questions also involve the amount of pressure the parts will be experiencing, as well as the process media flowing through a system that may come into direct contact with the valve. It is in the best interest of the company if they order a valve that is compatible with the gases or liquids that are being used for production or circulation within a system, because any negative reactions could damage both the valve and the media. This could cause the company to spend more money on product purchase, implementation, and maintenance, and cause in profit loss if system production tasks had to be halted due to contaminated process media. Fortunately, information is available on the capability, design, and sizing of a characterized control valve, which gives companies access to critical information before they move forward with a purchase and installation decision.

 

Characterized ball valves are used to control and modulate flow, and they offer a high level of stability in comparison with other valves. They are lighter in weight, more compact, much more affordable, and able to withstand higher pressure than comparably sized globe valves.  In addition, they offer a leak-proof seal, unlike globe valves, which allow a small amount of leakage and (DP) low pressure drops.  These types of ball valves are available in a multitude of sizes, and the characterized orifice can be customized to provide the exact amount of flow reduction that a company requires.