Ball valves were invented in the 1950s. With the rapid development of science and technology and continuous improvements in production processes and product structures, they have quickly become a major type of valve in just 40 years. In industrialized Western countries, the use of ball valves is steadily increasing year by year.
In my country, ball valves are widely used in petroleum refining, long-distance pipelines, chemical industry, papermaking, pharmaceuticals, water conservancy, power, municipal engineering, and steel industries, playing a crucial role in the national economy. They have a 90-degree rotation action, with a spherical plug and a circular through-hole or channel along its axis.
Ball valves are mainly used in pipelines for shut-off, distribution, and changing the flow direction of media. They require only a 90-degree rotation and a small torque to achieve a tight seal. Ball valves are best suited for on/off and shut-off applications, especially V-type ball valves. In addition to considering pipeline parameters, special attention should be paid to the environmental conditions of electric valves, as the electric actuator in an electric valve is a mechanical device, and its operating condition is greatly affected by the environment. Under normal circumstances, special care should be taken when using electric ball valves and butterfly valves in the following environments.
