One of the most important decisions in the industrial sector is the choice between trunnion and floating ball valves. This critical decision affects the efficiency of your operations and ultimately the success of your business. Both types of valves have their unique features, advantages, and disadvantages. It all depends on the specific requirements of your application, such as the pressure and temperature conditions, the fluid’s nature, and the required durability. Let’s delve deeper into the characteristics, uses, and differences between trunnion ball valves and floating ball valves.
What are Trunnion Ball Valves?
A Trunnion ball valve, named after the ‘trunnion’ or the small supporting parts that hold the ball securely in place, is a high-performance valve suitable for larger and higher pressure applications. The trunnion design ball valve has additional mechanical anchoring at the top and bottom, allowing it to bear the high pressure of upstream flow. This design makes it ideal for high-pressure systems, maintaining a tight seal and ensuring a longer life span with minimal maintenance.
What are Floating Ball Valves?
On the other hand, floating ball valves have a simpler design, where the ball is not fixed and ‘floats’ slightly downstream. When pressure is applied, the ball drifts towards the downstream seat to effect a tight seal. Floating ball valves are typically used in low to medium pressure applications and are popular due to their cost-effectiveness and easy maintenance.
Trunnion Ball Valves vs. Floating Ball Valves: The Differences
Pressure Handling
When it comes to pressure handling, trunnion ball valves are the preferred choice. They can handle high pressure and high-temperature applications better than floating ball valves due to their robust design and additional support.
Sealing Mechanism
The sealing mechanism for floating ball valves is pressure-activated, whereas trunnion ball valves employ a mechanical force for sealing. This mechanical force ensures a tight seal regardless of upstream pressure, making trunnion ball valves more reliable in high-pressure situations.
Cost and Maintenance
Floating ball valves are generally more cost-effective and require less maintenance than trunnion ball valves. However, the higher cost of trunnion ball valves can be a worthy investment for high-pressure systems due to their superior durability and reliability.
High-Quality Trunnion and Floating Ball Valves from WLY Transmission
Whether you need a trunnion or floating ball valve, WLY Transmission offers high-quality, reliable products at competitive prices. WLY Transmission specializes in a variety of high-pressure valves, valve manifolds, flanges, and fittings, suitable for various industries such as nuclear power, oil, chemical, shipbuilding, offshore, metallurgy, machinery, electricity, and more. Our products can withstand high temperature, high pressure, and high anti-corrosive harsh conditions, ensuring optimal performance and longevity.
At WLY Transmission, we not only provide top-quality products but also personalized design, mold development, material molding and forging, CNC precision machining, metal surface treatment, and comprehensive product testing. Our products comply with ANSI / ASME, DIN, BS, JIS, GB, CB, and other standards, and we also offer customized services to meet your specific needs.
Choose WLY Transmission for high-quality products, preferential prices, and considerate services. Our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction sets us apart in the industry.
