Industrial Applications And Selection Guide For Trunnion-mounted Ball Valves

Applicable Industrial Scenarios

• Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry: trunnion-mounted ball valves attached to engines play a crucial role in everything from oil and gas field extraction to pipeline transportation and refining. At wellhead sites, these valves can withstand high pressure as well as oil and gas flow. Its robust structure and reliable sealing ensure safe and effective control of oil and gas extraction and transportation. In long-distance gas pipelines, whether transporting high-pressure gas or impurity containing liquid, trunnion-mounted ball valves mounted on the engine can operate steadily, ensure smooth flow of fluid, and can react quickly to emergency closure or flow regulation. For example, on offshore oil and gas platforms, harsh environments require a high degree of reliability and corrosion resistance of valves; ball valves mounted on bushing perform well under these conditions. Corrosion resistant material and corrosionresistant design ensure stable operation in high salinity andhumidity marine environment and smooth extraction process.
• Chemical industry: Chemical operations generally include caustic, poisonous, or flammable/explosive materials that can change pressure and temperature a lot. Trunnion-mounted ball valves can be made of stainless steel, alloy and other corrosion resistant materials into valve and ball, utilizing PTFE, PEEK and other special sealing materials, suitable for a variety of complex chemical media. Whether the flow control in autoclaves or the closing and adjusting devices in pipelines carrying corrosive liquids, trunnion-mounted ball valves installed in electronic tubes can ensure the safety and stability of chemical processes. For example, in the chlor-alkali industry, chlorine gas and sodium hydroxide are highly corrosive, and the corrosion resistance of trunnion-mounted ball valves mounted on tree trunks ensures reliable operation in this harsh environment and continuous production.
• In the power business, trunnion-mounted ball valves are utilized in many types of power plants, such as thermal, hydro, and nuclear. These circular valves with shafts can control the flow of steam and water in pipelines that carry steam, water, and pulverized coal in thermal power plants. These ball ball valves can handle high water pressure and flow during dam spillway control and turbine water intake in hydropower facilities. Their strong design makes sure they work well even when the load is high.. In nuclear power plant, the reliability and safety of the valve is the first, using a variety of sealing design, the trunnion-mounted ball valves installed in the engine has excellent sealing performance, effectively prevent leakage of radioactive materials and ensure the safe operation of nuclear power plant. In the coolant circulation system nuclear power plants, for example, these ball valves ensure the steady transport of coolant at high temperature and pressure, and prevent accidents by quickly closing the pipes in an emergency. In the food and drug industry, product quality and hygiene are of paramount importance. The design of Trunnion-mounted ball valves conforms to sanitary standards, with smooth surface and no dead angle for easy cleaning and disinfection. Its reliable sealing prevents external contaminants from entering the pipeline system, thus avoiding contamination of food and medicine. For example, they are used in beverage production lines to control the flow of raw materials, semi-finished products products and finished products. In pharmaceutical production, in order to transport and control various media such as liquid and solvent, the trunnion-mounted ball valves installed on the cylinder meets strict hygiene requirements and ensures the stability and safety of product quality.
• In the aerospace industry, fluid systems on aircraft, such as fuel systems and hydraulic systems, require light weight, high reliability and excellent sealing performance. Trunnion-mounted ball valves is made of a lightweight, high-strength material, which can reduce the weight of an aircraft while satisfying high pressure and high frequency operating requirements. Accurate flow control and reliable shutoff functions are key to ensuring safe operation of the aircraft. In a an aircraft's fuel system, for example, a ball valve mounted on a loudspeaker can precisely control the flow of fuel to ensure a steady engine performance, depending on flight conditions. In a hydraulic system, it can quickly respond to control commands and can precisely control the plane's movements.

Highlights to consider when selecting valves:

• Media Characteristics: clearly define the type of medium (liquid, gas or vapour), its properties (e.g. corrosion, viscosity and presence of particulate matter) and its cleanliness level. When dealing with corrosive substances, you should choose valve materials and sealants that won't corrode, including stainless steel bodies with PTFE or reinforced PTFE seals. If the medium viscosity is high or has solid impurities in it, a full-caliber, trapezoidal ball valve should be used to reduce the chance of blockage in the valve and keep the fluid flowing smoothly.
• Operating pressure and temperature range: Determine the operating pressure and temperature range of the pipeline system accurately. The rated pressure and working temperature of the selected trunnion-mounted ball valve must conform to the actual working conditions. In high-pressure environment, the structural strength and sealing performance of the valve face greater challenges, so the valve should be selected thicker body, high-strength trunnions, a special sealing structure ball valve. For high or low temperature applications, ensure that valve material can withstand temperature variations, prevent performance degradation, and ensure reliable operation. For example, in high-temperature steam systems, a metal-seated trunnion-mounted ball valve are required, while in cryogenic liquefied gas pipelines, a cryogenically treated low-temperature ball valve are required.
• Material Compatibility: Choose valve materials that are right for the medium and the environment in which they will be used. Stainless steel, carbon steel, and cast iron are all common materials for valve bodies. Each has its own level of corrosion resistance, strength, and abrasion resistance. 316L stainless steel is widely used in the food and drug industries because it is very resistant to corrosion and is very clean. In normal industrial water systems, carbon steel ball valves may be cheaper, but they are not good for corrosive situations. Choosing the right sealing material is also very important. It needs to match the medium and the temperature at which it will be used. For example, PTFE seals are suitable for room temperature and corrosive media but may fail at high temperatures; in this case, other materials should be used. High-temperature resistant materials such as PPL (p-phenylene polymer) or metal seals.
• Size and Flow Rate: select the appropriate axial ball valve size according to the flow requirements of the system and pipe diameter. Different diameter ball valves have different flow characteristics. Generally speaking, the flow coefficient of the full caliber ball valves is high and the pressure drop is low. It is suitable for high flow rate and low pressure loss, such as pump discharge lines. Although the price is cheap, the pressure drop is a little high, suitable for flow rate and pressure drop requirements are not particularly strict general application. When selecting a ball valve, calculate the flow rate and allowable pressure drop of the system, then refer to the flow coefficient curve of the ball valve to select the most suitable size.
• Connection method: Trunnion-mounted ball valves has a variety of connecting methods, such as flange connection, thread connection, welding connection and compression fittings. Connection mode shall be selected according to the actual condition, installation requirements and maintenance convenience of the piping system. Large diameter high pressure pipe usually adopts flange connections, high strength, reliable sealing, convenient installation and maintenance. Small caliber low voltage pipe can be threaded, the threaded connection operation is simple, but the relatively weaker sealing performance. Welded connections are suitable for applications requiring extremely high sealing performance and infrequent disassembly, such as the transport of flammable or explosive materials. piping system of media. Clamp-type connections are usually used for systems that require quick installation and disassembly, such as laboratory piping or temporary equipment.
• Operating method and control accuracy: determine the appropriate operating method (manual, pneumatic, electric, hydraulic, etc.) and control accuracy according to specific application requirements. Manual operation is suitable for low frequency operation and application with low control precision, and has high cost performance. One of the most critical performance parameters for a trunnion-mounted ball valve is how well it seals. When picking a valve, make sure to check the sealing structure, the material used for sealing, and the critical sealing performance parameters, such as the rate of leakage. There are two main kinds of sealing structures: soft seals and hard seals. PTFE, rubber, and other materials usually seal well at first and operate well at room temperature and low pressure, as well as for leaks. In harsh conditions like high temperatures, high pressures, and corrosive media, hard seals, such metal-to-metal seals, operate better. But over time and with use, their capacity to seal may get worse. Some high-end trunnion-mounted ball valves also have double or multiple sealing systems, which make the seal even more reliable and safe.. Hydraulic operation is usually used in applications that require high output torque, such as valve control in large hydraulic projects. In addition, if precise valve control is required, consider equipping the valve with appropriate control devices and sensors, such as smart valve positioners, to ensure accurate valve operation.
• Sealing performance is one of the most important performance metrics for a trunnion-mounted ball valve. When choosing a valve, be sure to look at the sealing structure, the material used for sealing, and the important sealing performance criteria, including the leakage rate. Soft seal and hard seal are two common types of sealing structures. PTFE, rubber, and other materials usually seal well at first and work well at room temperature and low pressure, as well as for leaks. Hard seals, like metal-to-metal seals, work better in tough environments like high temperatures, high pressures, and corrosive media. However, their sealing ability may get worse over time and with use. Some high-end trunnion-mounted ball valves also incorporate double or multiple sealing arrangements, which make the seal even more reliable and safe.
• Valve Seat Configuration: Some trunnion-mounted ball valves have different valve seat configurations, such as double and double seat vents, double seat isolation and (DIB vents. When closed, the seat is DBB and the cavity between the seat surfaces releases pressure, sealing both ends of the valve. Through a DIB seat, each seat surface provides a sealing device to prevent pressure from a single source, and the cavity between the seat surfaces is expelled/released. When selecting valves, appropriate seat configurations shall be selected in accordance with specific process requirements and safety standards. For example, priority should be given to the DIB configuration where downstream leakage risks need to be effectively reduced, leakage tolerance is low, or process fluid contain abrasives that could lead to leakage. As a rule, the default configuration may be DBB unless otherwise specified.