Industrial Plastic Ball Valves

From Asahi America, Eslon & Polypipe Effast

Thermoplastic ball valves perform an on/off or modulating function provided by a flow controlling ball inside the body of the valve. A hole through the centre of the ball connects the inlet and outlet ports of the body which can be opened and closed by rotating the ball 90˚ via the valve handle.

The ball is held in place by PTFE seats that provide permanent lubrication, and keep the valve bubble-tight. They are backed by elastomeric cushions, which provide pressure against the ball and compensate for wear.

Elastomer o-rings are used for the stem and carrier seals to prevent leakage to the atmosphere. In the open position, the flow is straight-through, and there is minimal pressure drop when the porting as the ball is the same size as the inside diameter of the pipe.

Asahi Type-21/21a ball valves are corrosion-resistant, plastic, manual, true-union design, quarter-turn valves with hyperbolic flow characteristics, low pressure drops and reliable sealing.

They offer flow control that is used for on/off applications—typically excellent in clean fluid service applications with little-to-no suspended solids.

True-union ball valves can be lifted from a line without having to move piping, simply by loosening union nuts. Asahi type 21 ball valves can be disassembled and parts can be replaced. They can also be pneumatically or electrically actuated.

ABS is a highly rated thermoplastic pipework system used in applications throughout food and beverage, water and sewerage treatment, and many other industries because it’s lightweight, non toxic, has a high impact strength and good chemical resistance. The Polypipe Effast ABS ball valve has good resistance to most diluted inorganic acids, salts, animal fats and oils and organic acids.

Asahi Type-23 3-way true-union-design, plastic ball valves simplify piping systems by eliminating additional valve and tee fittings in many installations. They can be disassembled, parts can be replaced and may be pneumatically or electrically actuated.

Fluid flow direction in an Asahi Type 23 3-way ball valve is governed by an interchangeable ball in the centre. This ball can be swapped out to offer a number of different flow patterns. Flow patterns include an L-ported ball valve which permits flow from the bottom to either the left or right ports or to an OFF position, or an optional tee-ported ball allows simultaneous left and right flow, creating a valve with two branches and one leg.

Asahi Type-23 3-Way valves have a low pressure drop and work best in applications with zero to very low concentrations of suspended solids. True Union ball valves can be lifted from the line, without having to move the piping, simply by loosening the two union nuts.

Ball valves can be a better choice for applications where a quick and simple flow control is necessary, as they are generally more compact and less expensive than other valve types. For this reason, ball valves are often the first choice for many applications. However, depending on the application, other valve types may be better suited. Other valve types include: