A Ball Valve is a type of quarter-turn valve that utilizes a hollow, perforated, and pivoting ball to control the flow through it. The valve is open when the ball’s hole aligns with the flow and closed when it is pivoted 90 degrees by the valve handle. The handle lies flat in alignment with the flow when open and is perpendicular to it when closed, providing easy visual confirmation of the valve’s status.
Ball Valves are known for their durability, performing reliably even after many cycles, and closing securely even after long periods of disuse. These qualities make them an excellent choice for shutoff and control applications, often preferred over Gate and Globe Valves. However, they do not provide the fine control required for throttling applications.