KSB ball valve – top quality for a perfectly tight shut-off

Ball valve – reliable and efficient

A high pressure capability, an excellent shut-off, low maintenance – a ball valve from KSB is a reliable valve for gases, oils, hydrocarbons and other non-corrosive fluids.

A KSB ball valve provides a maximum in efficiency and reliability and – thanks to its high quality – a long service life. KSB customers can depend on the company's many years of experience and expert knowledge: Our Brazil factory has been manufacturing ball valves since 1974. KSB ball valves have been on the market for a very long time. They are API-certified, for example, and meet all requirements for oil and gas applications. KSB customers also enjoy excellent technical support.

Benefits of a ball valve from KSB

• Full bore for maximum flow rate at minimum pressure drop
• A reliably tight shut-off and a high pressure capability with optimised balls and robust materials – also available for heavy-duty applications
• Blowout-proof shaft
• Excellent automation options
• Low maintenance and a long service life
• Anti-static design prevents electrostatic charging during operation
• Highly suitable for pigging
• Large range of dimensions and good lining options

Differences in the design of ball valves

Key elements of a ball valve:

• Shaft
• Shaft seal
• Body
• Ball (obturator)
• Seat ring

A distinction is made between ball valves with a full bore and with a reduced bore. With a full bore design, the hole in the ball has got the same inside diameter as the connected piping, so flow losses are low.

A further difference is made between full-bore ball valves with a floating ball and with a guided ball. Both of these ball valve types provide a tight shut-off with pre-loaded sealing elements and existing fluid pressures. For a guided ball design the ball is trunnion-mounted in the body. With the ball in a fixed position, the fluid presses the sealing elements against the ball. In the case of a ball valve with a floating ball, the ball is pressed into the opposite seal face.

Ball valves are available in different sizes and various designs: with a single-piece, two-piece or three-piece body, with or without flanges. They are easy to operate with a lever or butterfly handle.

Ball valves in a nutshell

This is how a ball valve works

A ball valve is a shut-off valve or, to be more precise, a shut-off ball valve, whose shut-off element is a ball. A 90-degree turn opens or closes the valve.  

A ball valve generally allows a flow through the valve from either side. The space between the ball and body is generally sealed by plastic joint rings. Depending on the material, the sealing elements are suitable for operating temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius. For higher operating temperatures or highly technically demanding conditions, metal sealing elements are generally used for the seat.

Unlike a lift check valve that is designed for the fluid to flow through in one direction only, a ball valve is a shut-off valve that completely closes by a turn of exactly 90 degrees. A ball valve should also not be confused with a globe valve that has to be operated manually.

KSB ball valve made of high-quality materials

The ball valves manufactured by KSB are top-class industrial valves and perfectly complement your system. They are available in floating and in trunnion-mounted design with face-to-face lengths from 2 to 48 inches. If necessary, the ball valves can be supplied in a fire-safe design tested to meet the requirements of the ISO 10497 standard.

A ball valve from KSB comprises various connections to the piping, e.g. flanged ends, female threaded ends, butt weld ends or socket weld ends. You can choose between a ball valve with a lever or a gearbox, with a pneumatic or an electric actuator.

KSB ball valves are made of high-quality materials such as carbon and super duplex stainless steel. This allows fluids to be transported safely – even when containing substances such as cellulose/pulp or chlorine or when sour gas is produced.

With its efficent opening and closing systems, a KSB ball valve is versatile in use and perfectly suited for applications in the chemical, petrochemical, oil and gas industries as well as for pulp and paper production.