Posted by RWVC on | Comments Off on Everything You Need to Know About Ball Valves
Ball valves are a type of shut-off valve designed to control the flow of a gas or liquid through the use of a pivoting ball that has a port through its center. When the ball is rotated 90°, the medium is either blocked or allowed to flow through, depending on the orientation of the port. Ball valves come in a wide range of styles, materials, and sizes to meet the particular needs of various applications.
What Are Ball Valves?
Ball valves are installed throughout piping systems to allow, obstruct, and control the flow of various vapors, gases and liquids. The ball is mounted against two seats and is connected with a shaft to the control mechanism used to rotate the ball. When the port opening is perpendicular to the flow, the fluid is not allowed to pass through the valve. By rotating the port to the open position, fluid is allowed to pass through at a controlled rate.
Design
One key design element of ball valves is their construction material. Ball valves can be constructed from a wide range of materials, such as metals, plastics, or metal fused with ceramic. The ball itself is often plated with chrome for added durability. The ideal ball valve material depends on factors such as operating temperature, pressure, and the type of fluid that will move through it.
Another design aspect of ball valves is their port profile. The hole through the ball can have different profiles such as V-shaped, reduced port or full port:
V-Shaped. A V-shaped or characterized profile allows for more precise control of flow rate by rotating the ball. The profile can be optimized to achieve linear flow characteristics.
Reduced port. This is the most common type of bore profile. Reduced bore ball valves can introduce friction losses into a system; however, these losses are relatively small compared to other valve types.
Full port. These ports have the same diameter as the pipe, meaning they are easier to clean and there are no extra friction losses. However, full port valves often cost more and are bigger than standard ball valves.
Function
Similar to other valves that use a rotating disc to control the movement of fluid throughout a system, ball valves use a ball to control the fluid. By moving the actuator, the ball rotates to a point where the port aligns with the valve body outlet and inlet, allowing the fluid to flow through the valve.
The valve needs a one-quarter turn of a handwheel to move from fully open to fully closed. This small degree of movement allows operators to quickly open and close the valve in the event of an emergency. By closing the valve, operators can easily isolate a section of piping for repairs, installation, or inspection.
Applications
Because of minimal flow restrictions, ball valves cause a low-pressure drop compared to other valve types, which prevents valve damage. Since ball valves only require a one-quarter turn to fully open or shut off, they offer a great way to immediately allow or restrict fluid flow. This advantage makes ball valves a popular option for a wide range of residential and specialized applications, including:
Outdoor hoses, plumbing, washing machines, and other residential applications
This exterior shell houses the other valve components. It’s often constructed from a rigid metal that can provide adequate protection to the internal components.
Ball
The spherical ball features a hole in the center, known as a port. The port serves as an opening to either allow or block the flow of fluid, depending on its position. When the cross-section of the port aligns with the fluid path, fluid is allowed to flow through. This is crucial in preventing throttling.
Seat
The seat seals the gap between the ball and the body of the valve.
Stem
The stem connects to the actuator or handle that rotates the ball. It has o-rings or other seals in place so fluid can’t leak between the shaft, stem, or bonnet.
Bonnet
This is part of the valve housing. It contains and protects the shaft and its packing.
Working With RED-WHITE VALVE CORP.
At RED-WHITE VALVE CORP., we specialize in creating high-quality ball valves for various residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Our products include:
Comprehensively certified valves: 5544AB and 5549AB
For more information about our capabilities, or for help determining the right ball valve for your application, contact our experts or request a quote today.
Posted by RWVC on | Comments Off on An Introduction to Pneumatic Actuators
What Is a Pneumatic Actuator?
Actuators convert potential energy into kinetic energy (i.e., mechanical motion) when prompted by a control signal. They are integrated into a variety of devices and systems to perform various tasks. There are many types available, each of which is suitable for different applications. One way of categorizing them is by their power source (i.e., what form of energy they use to produce mechanical motion).
Pneumatic actuators—also referred to as pneumatic cylinders, air cylinders, and air actuators—rely on compressed air for their operation. While all pneumatic actuators have the same basic components (a cylinder, ports or valves, and a mechanical element), they can vary in design; for example, rotary actuators convert energy into rotary motion, while linear actuators convert energy into linear motion.
Typical applications for pneumatic actuators include:
Aircraft
Automobiles
Packaging and production equipment
Pump systems
Trains
How Does a Pneumatic Actuator Work?
As mentioned above, a pneumatic actuator uses compressed air to produce mechanical motion. It does this by containing regular air, pressurized gas, or a combination of the two within a chamber and allowing it to expand. As the air/gas expands, it creates a pressure differential between the inside of the chamber and the surrounding environment, which energizes the air/gas. The air/gas is then directed out of the chamber toward a mechanical component (e.g., gear or piston), which actually performs the task.
Advantages of Pneumatic Actuators
Compared to other types of actuators, pneumatic valves offer a number of advantages.
They have a simple design, which makes them easy and, consequently, cheaper to produce.
They are highly durable and easy to maintain, resulting in lower replacement and repair costs.
They do not require electricity or ignition to operate, making them suitable for use in environments where combustion is a concern.
They can generate greater forces than electric actuators, which makes them better suited for handling heavier loads.
Types of Pneumatic Actuators
Pneumatic actuators can be classified according to a variety of design factors. For example, they can be categorized into three main varieties based on what type of mechanical motion they produce: linear, rotary, and combination.
Linear Actuators
Linear actuators are designed to produce linear motion. They use various mechanisms to perform this function, such as pistons and diaphragms. In piston-style linear actuators, the stroke length is dependent on the length of the cylinder. In diaphragm-style linear actuators, the stroke length is dependent on the stretch tolerance of the diaphragm.
Piston-style linear actuators can be further classified into single-acting actuators and double-acting actuators. Single-acting actuators rely on air pressure to move the piston in one direction and a spring to move it back to the original location. Double-acting actuators rely on air pressure to move the piston forward and back. The former has a simpler design, a smaller footprint, and lower compressed air requirements. The latter offers greater force capacities, faster operating speeds, and longer lifespans.
Rotary Actuators
Rotary actuators are designed to produce rotary motion. Similar to linear actuators, they use a variety of mechanisms to perform this function. Some of the most commonly used are pistons, diaphragms, yokes, vanes. Piston-style rotary actuators offer a limited range of rotation, yoke-style rotary actuators offer up to 90 degrees of rotation, and vane-style rotary actuators offer up to and exceeding 360 degrees of rotation.
Combination Actuators
Combination actuators are designed to produce both linear motion and a limited degree of rotary motion. They are commonly used in work holding applications, where they are used for clamps that must be constantly engaged, disengaged, and reengaged to switch out workpieces.
Pneumatic Actuators From RED-WHITE VALVE CORP.
Pneumatic actuators play a vital role in many different devices and systems (e.g., in valve systems, they open and close the valve to start and stop the flow of fluid). Given their importance, it is essential to source them from a reliable supplier. Otherwise, they may underperform or fail, which can lead to loss of productivity and profitability.
Need pneumatic actuators you can trust in your critical valve applications? The experts at RED-WHITE VALVE CORP. have got you covered! We offer high-quality pneumatic actuators for valve assemblies used in industrial and commercial applications. To learn more about our product offerings, contact us today.
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