A ball valve is a shut off valve that controls the flow of a liquid
or gas by means of a rotary ball having a bore. By rotating
the ball a quarter turn (90 degrees) around its axis, the medium
can flow through or is blocked. They are characterized by a long
service life and provide a reliable sealing over the life span,
even when the valve is not in use for a long time. As a result,
they are more popular as a shut off valve then for example the gate
valve. For a complete comparison, read our gate valve vs ball
valve article. Ball valves are more resistant against contaminated
media than most other types of valves.
In special versions, ball valves are also used as a control valve.
This application is less common due to the relatively limited
accuracy of controlling the flow rate in comparison with other
types of control valves. However, the valve also offers some
advantages here. For example, it still ensures a reliable sealing,
even in the case of dirty media.
