News/Blog
News/Blog
01, 1970
Ball valves belong to the quarter-turn valve category and facilitate a 90-degree rotation, which controls the flow of media using a ball-like mechanism inside the valve. In industrial applications, they provide a robust shut-off seal and are user-friendly.
Industrial metal-seated ball valves are commonly utilized in chemical factories, mines, and non-refinery settings. Manufactured by certified industrial valve producers, these valves are designed for processes requiring essential isolation, high pressures, elevated temperatures, and resistance to erosion, corrosion, and abrasion. Refer to this guide to learn more about orbit rising stem ball valve models.
An orbit valve is a specific type of ball valve designed to prevent seal rubbing through its unique tilt and turn mechanism. Seal rubbing is a primary cause of failure in ball valves, gate valves, and plug valves. Orbit valves feature robust seals primarily made of metal, enhancing their ability to operate in demanding and hostile environments.
These valves are suitable for various applications, including flow lines, dryer switching, emergency shutdowns, bypass and block operations, product segregation, suction isolation, and discharge. They are commonly used in industries such as petrochemical, gas, and oil.
To minimize seal rubbing, which is a major wear factor in ball valves, orbit valves employ a switch and tilt operation. When closed, the orbit valve core firmly contacts the seat, providing a positive shut-off. As the valve opens, the core tilts away from the seat, allowing fluid to flow evenly around the core face. This design helps reduce localized high-velocity fluid flow that can lead to uneven wear on the seat.
The operation of the orbit valve enhances performance by allowing low torque and improving the long-term reliability of the valve. When the handwheel is turned to close the orbit valve, the stem begins to retract. Precision grooves in the stem engage stabilized guide pins, enabling the core and stem to rotate.
As you continue turning the handwheel, the stem and core can complete a 90-degree rotation without the core touching the seat. The final turn of the wheel mechanically forces the stem downward, ensuring a tight seal against the seat to stop fluid flow effectively.
Each orbit ball valve employs a reliable tilt and turn mechanism that eliminates seal rubbing, a primary cause of valve failure. When the orbit valve is closed, the core is mechanically jammed tightly against the seat, ensuring a positive shut-off.
As the orbit valve opens, the core tilts away from the seat, allowing line flow to distribute evenly across the core face. This design prevents the uneven seat wear often experienced in traditional ball, gate, and plug valves due to localized high-velocity flow. The core then rotates to achieve a fully open position.
By preventing seal rubbing during both the opening and closing processes, the orbit valve facilitates smooth operation with reduced torque requirements, ensuring long-term reliable performance. This operating principle provides a dependable positive shut-off when leakage cannot be tolerated.
When the handwheel is turned to close the orbit ball valve, the stem lowers. The interaction between the precisely cut spiral grooves in the stem and the fixed guide pins causes both the core and stem to rotate. As the handwheel is continuously turned, the core and stem complete a 90-degree rotation without making contact with the seat. The final turns of the handwheel mechanically force the stem downward, securely pressing the core against the seat.
Orbit ball valves are available in various types, sizes, materials, and trims to meet the requirements of diverse applications.
Depending on the service requirements, materials such as carbon steel, duplex stainless steel, stainless steel, high nickel alloys, and other specialized substances are utilized. To enhance longevity in corrosive environments, protective coatings are applied to both the interior and exterior of the valves.
For optimal performance in specific applications, soft or metal seating options are selected. These valves are designed to withstand hot, abrasive environments, as their seals do not rub against each other and are mechanically compressed when closed.
Users can choose between power and manual operation. Orbit valves feature pneumatic actuators that can be double-acting, spring-closing, or spring-opening. Additionally, electric and hydraulic actuators are available, along with various instrumentation options.
Customization options include thermal jackets, handwheel extensions, security interlocks, position indicator limit switches, custom painting, and specialized inspection services.
Here are the standard features of the reliable orbit valve available on the market:
In conventional ball, gate, and plug valves, seat wear is primarily caused by seal abrasion, which is eliminated by the tilt-and-turn mechanism of the orbit valve.
The orbit valve utilizes a fixed seat that seals in both directions, resolving issues related to trapped pressure between labels.
Full port or reduced port apertures yield high CV numbers, enhancing both erosion resistance and system pumping efficiency.
Durable orbit valves can replace problematic gate, plug, and globe valves. Their design offers performance benefits that lower maintenance costs and reduce plant outages.
To effectively manage fugitive emissions during in-service care and maintenance, the stem stuffing material can be injected through the packing fitting.
The top-entry design facilitates maintenance by allowing for in-line inspection and repair after the system is depressurized.
Before rotation, bending the body away from the seat allows for a 360-degree flow around the core exterior. This action helps wash away any new material from the seat without relying on concentrated high-velocity erosive flow.
The lift-and-turn motion of the stem is stabilized by robust guide pins and reinforced stem openings.
The elimination of seal rubbing enables easy valve rotation in orbit valves.
The cam angle at the deeper end of the stem provides a mechanically powered seal.
The core face is crafted from a tough, polished material that withstands demanding use while maintaining its sealing integrity and resistance to wear.
These valves use a handwheel to regulate fluid flow without external power. They are affordable, reliable, and easy to troubleshoot, but must always be operated manually, requiring an operator’s presence.
Operated by pressurized fluid (oil or water), these valves offer fine control with low energy loss. They come in semi-automatic and automatic versions but require additional hydraulic piping and may pose fire risks due to potential leaks.
Powered by compressed air, these valves can be fully or partially automated. They are popular for their reliability and safety, with minimal fire hazards. However, they may struggle with slow operation.
These valves use electric motors to operate and can function manually or automatically. They offer high torque and do not require hydraulic fluid, but they are more expensive and can be affected by power outages and fire risks.
Orbit ball valves are suitable for a variety of applications, including mol sieve dehydration switches, dryer switching, meter isolation, flowlines, product segregation, heat transfer fluids/hot oil, emergency shutdowns, hydrogen service, block and bypass, and suction and discharge isolation.
- Simple Design: The straightforward design allows for easy repairs.
- No Seat Rubbing: Absence of seat rubbing enhances durability.
- Corrosion Resistance: High resistance to corrosion ensures longevity.
- Reduced Leakage: Minimal leaks lead to less waste and environmental impact.
- Abrasion Resistance: The valves are designed to withstand wear and tear.
- Top-Entry Design: Facilitates easy access for repairs and in-line inspections.
- Versatile Applications: Suitable for transferring hot or heat transfer liquids.
- Emergency Use: Can be effectively applied during emergency shutdowns.
- Multiple Actuator Options: Various actuators can be used depending on client needs.
- Wide Operating Temperature Range: Function effectively from -104°C to 427°C.
- Self-Cleaning Feature: Enhances maintenance ease.
- Higher Cost: Orbit ball valves tend to be more expensive compared to other valve types.
- Sensitive Applications: Used in critical areas like the petroleum sector, where proper operation is essential to prevent environmental damage.
Orbit ball valves are widely used in critical isolation applications where leakage prevention and systematic operation are essential. Their tilt-and-turn mechanism effectively deters seal rubbing, the primary cause of valve failure. This design ensures that seal rubbing is minimized during both opening and closing, resulting in easy, low-torque operation and reliable performance over time.
