Compact and Union Ball Valves: Efficient Fluid Control Solutions?

As a key component for controlling water sources, ball valves provide a reliable and efficient solution for regulating the flow of various fluids. Whether in construction, industrial pipelines or agricultural irrigation, ball valves have a wide range of applications.

What is a ball valve?

A ball valve is a mechanical device used to control the flow of fluids (mainly liquids and gases) in a pipeline or system. Its name comes from the spherical occluder inside the valve body, which is the main flow control element. By turning the valve handle or actuator, the sphere can be positioned in different positions to allow or impede the passage of fluid. Ball valves are known for their quick operation, durability and ability to withstand high-pressure environments.

Classification of Ball Valves

Based on their structure, ball valves can be divided into the following categories:

One-piece Ball Valves: also known as Compact ball valves.

1.1 ERA Compact Ball Valves

Union Ball Valves

1.2 ERA Single & True Union Ball Valves

According to the use, ball valves can be divided into:

Check Valves

1.3 ERA Check Valves

Foot Valves

1.4 ERA Foot Valves

Butterfly Valves

1.5 ERA Butterfly Valves and Flanges

ERA’s Compact & Union Ball valves

Next, we'll introduce a few of the most popular ball valves currently available in ERA company:

1. COMPACT BALL VALVE : Compact ball valve is a commonly used control valve, which mainly consists of components such as valve body, handle, and valve ball. The valve body is equipped with inlet and outlet pipelines, and there is a spherical valve core inside. The handle is used to control the movement of the valve core. When the handle rotates, the valve core also rotates, thereby controlling the direction and flow rate of fluid in the valve.

2. SINGLE UNION BALL VALVE : Adopting a Type II structural design, it has a single-sided control function and can be used for medium pressure and flow applications.

3. TRUE UNION BALL VALVE : It also adopts a Type II structural design, but has a dual sided ball valve function, suitable for higher pressure and flow situations.

These valves are commonly used to regulate flow in liquid and gas pipelines.

The term "ⅡSINGLE UNION BALL VALVE" refers to a valve with only one port, allowing fluid to pass through in one direction and close off in the other.

A "ⅡTRUE UNION BALL VALVE" has two ports, enabling control of fluid flow in both directions and providing enhanced control performance.

Features of Compact & Union Ball valves:

Compared with other ball valves, the advantage of the compact ball valve lies in its uncomplicated structure and easy operation, making it suitable for basic fluid control tasks.The installation process is straightforward, the construction is uncomplicated, and maintenance is hassle-free.

The Ⅱ single union ball valve is suitable for situations where only one fluid needs to be controlled, such as water flow or air flow, without the need to control the direction change.

The Ⅱ true union ball valve is suitable for scenarios wheretwo fluids need to be controlled at the same time, suitable for applications requiring bidirectional flow control and prevention of reverse flow.

Structure :

1. COMPACT BALL VALVE ：

1. Body : PVC,CPVC,PP

2. Seat Seal : TPE,PTEE

3. O-Ring : EPDM,FPM(NBR)

4. Ball : PVC,CPVC,PP

5. Handle : ABS

6. Cap : ABS

2. Ⅱ SINGLE UNION BALL VALVE :

1. EndConnector : PVC,CPVC,PP

2. CarrierO-Ring : EPDM,FPM(NBR)

3. UnionNut : PVC,CPVC,PP

4. SealCarrier : PVC,CPVC,PP

5. Ball : PVC,CPVC,PP

6. Body : PVC,CPVC,PP

7. SeatSeal : PTEE

8. O-Ring : EPDM,FPM(NBR)

9. Stem : PVC,CPVC,PP

10. Stem O-Ring : EPDM,FPM(NBR)

11. Handle : ABS

3. Ⅱ TRUE UNION BALL VALVE :

1. Stem : PVC,CPVC,PP

2. Handle : ABS

3. Stem O-Ring : EPDM,FPM(NBR)

4. UnionNut : PVC,CPVC,PP

5. EndConnector : PVC,CPVC,PP

6. Body O-Ring : EPDM,FPM(NBR)

7. Ring : EPDM,FPM(NBR)

8. Body : PVC,CPVC,PP

9. Ball : PVC,CPVC,PP

10.    SeatSeal: PTEE

11. Seat Carrier : PVC,CPVC,PP

12. CarrierO-Ring : EPDM,FPM(NBR)

Comparison of ERA’s with ball valves from other manufacturers

1. Raw Materials

ERA:

EPDM : Used for O-rings, EPDM offers excellent electrical insulation, chemical resistance, and impact elasticity. It also provides resistance to acids and alkalis, has low specific gravity, and is highly resistant to ozone, UV, weathering, and aging.

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): ERA uses high-quality PVC material for valve bodies and fittings, which offers excellent corrosion and compression resistance and is lightweight. This material also has good chemical resistance and mechanical strength. ERA's self-compounded formulation is NSF certified, and products manufactured from ERA-developed formulas have received over 60 prestigious international certifications.

Other factories:

NBR : Used for O-rings, although it performs well in some applications, it has several drawbacks, including poor cold resistance, poor ozone resistance, lower strength and elasticity, poor acid resistance, poor electrical insulation, and poor resistance to polar solvents.

PVC: Other manufacturers may use lower-quality PVC materials, resulting in reduced durability and reliability of valve bodies and fittings.

2. Scale of Production

ERA:

With 9 production bases nationwide covering most of China, ERA has a strong production and supply capacity of 1.6 million tonnes per year, which meets market demand and ensures timely delivery.

Other factories:

Most other factories have a smaller production scale and are concentrated in specific regions with limited supply chain coverage, which may lead to untimely delivery.

3. Product Quality

ERA:

ERA ball valves are of excellent quality, using high-quality materials and advanced manufacturing processes to ensure product durability and reliability.

A strict quality control system ensures that each batch of products meets high standards.

Other factories:

Product quality varies, and some factories may compromise on material selection and manufacturing processes, resulting in poorer product durability and reliability.

4. Quality Control Process

ERA:

ERA has a comprehensive quality inspection process. From raw material purchasing to finished products leaving the factory, each step undergoes strict quality inspection. Each ball valve produced by ERA passes a water pressure test before being packed and shipped.

Advanced testing equipment and technology are used to comprehensively test various performance indicators of the products to ensure stable product quality.

Other factories:

The quality inspection process in some factories is not strict enough and may omit or simplify testing steps in some parts, leading to hidden product quality problems.

Advantages of plastic ball valves over traditional copper or iron ball valves

(1)Good hygienic performance. No precipitation of heavy metals. It’s safer and healthier to use.

(2)Good corrosion resistance. The corrosion resistance of plastic valves is better than cast iron valves, steel valves, copper valves and stainless steel valves.

(3)More Light weight. Plastic valves are lightweight, about 1/3 of the valve for the metal. Therefore, plastic valves are easier to install and can reduce the installation load of the pipeline. In addition, the light weight can reduce transportation costs and installation costs.

(4)Longer service life. The service life of plastic valves is not less than 25 years, some of the structure of the valve can be maintenance-free.

(5)Smooth inner wall. The inner wall is smoother than valves which are made of metal and less prone to scaling. In the seasonal use of the system, they will not be adsorbed in the valve sealing parts because of some substances in the transport

medium, and affect the opening and closing operation when the valve is used again.

(6) More cost-effective. Relative to metal valves, plastic valves cost-effective, giving the user an increase in the choice of varieties of comparison.

The two valves in the figure were installed in the water pipeline copper products, the left figure is a copper ball valve, the right figure is a copper angle valve, it can be seen that the corrosion resistance of metal valves and resistance to adsorption performance relative to the plastic valves are relatively weak, cast iron valves are even more so.

Condition of copper valve after long service

ERA Valve Product Advantages：

1. Various product colors available.

2. Fully automatic installation of  compact ball valves and Each product is individually pressure tested to provide stable quality assurance.ERA has been equipped with 20 sets of automated injection molding systems for valves; 8 sets of automatic installation equipment for valves; and two automatic pressure-testing assembly lines.

3. Various international certifications.A total of 13 international certifications have been obtained, such as NSF, UPC, WATERMARK, WRAS and KITEMARK.

4. Self-built laboratories.Strong research team with two PhDs leading 250 research members; national technology center--Yonggao Research Institute can provide strong technical support.

Usages of different types of valves.

COMPACT BALL VALVE：

Switching Control: The primary purpose of compact ball valves is to control the on/off state of fluid flow, allowing or blocking the passage of media.

Flow Regulation: Some compact ball valves offer flow regulation capabilities by rotating the handle to control the valve opening and adjust the flow rate.

Diverting/Merging Flows: Multiple compact ball valves can be used to divert or merge fluid flows, managing media distribution between different pipelines.

ⅡSINGLE UNION BALL VALVE：

On/Off Control: Similar to regular ball valves, the primary function of single union ball valves is to control the on/off state of fluid flow.

Flow Regulation: Some single union ball valves also offer flow regulation capabilities.

Isolation: Can serve as isolation valves, separating a section of the piping system for maintenance or repair.

ⅡTRUE UNION BALL VALVE：

Facilitating installation and disassembly, the common ball valve is suitable for pipelines requiring frequent disassembly and maintenance.

Applicable scene：

COMPACT BALL VALVE：

Industrial Sector:

1,Petrochemical: Controlling various fluid media like oil, natural gas, and chemicals, including high-temperature, high-pressure, and corrosive media in pipeline systems.

2.Power Generation: Managing the flow of water, steam, and oil, commonly found in power plant cooling systems and boiler feedwater systems.

3.Metallurgy: Controlling the flow of water, gases, and molten metals, frequently used in steelmaking and iron smelting processes.

4.Food and Beverage: Managing the flow of water, juices, beverages, and alcoholic drinks, meeting food-grade hygiene standards.

5.Pharmaceutical: Controlling the flow of water, gases, and pharmaceutical products, fulfilling the high cleanliness requirements of the pharmaceutical industry.

Civil Sector:

1.Building Construction: Regulating the flow of water, heating, and air conditioning media, commonly used in building water supply, heating, and air conditioning systems.

2.Agricultural Irrigation: Controlling irrigation water flow for precise irrigation.

SINGLE UNION BALL VALVE：

1.Petrochemical: Controlling corrosive media, high-viscosity media, or media requiring frequent cleaning.

2.Pharmaceutical: Used in piping systems demanding high cleanliness and easy sterilization.

3.Food and Beverage: For piping systems requiring adherence to hygiene standards and ease of cleaning.

Civil Sector:

1.Building Construction: In water supply and heating systems requiring periodic maintenance.

2.Swimming Pool Equipment: Controlling the circulation and filtration of pool water.

TRUE UNION BALL VALVE：

Pipeline Systems Requiring Frequent Disassembly and Maintenance: The double union design enables easy and complete removal of the valve for cleaning, repairs, or replacement without dismantling any piping sections.

Space-Constrained Environments: Compared to flanged connections, union connections offer a more compact solution, making them ideal for applications with limited space.

Piping Systems Handling Flammable, Explosive, or Corrosive Media: True union ball valves offer enhanced safety as they can be easily isolated and replaced, minimizing the risk of leaks.

Industrial Sector:

Petrochemical: Controlling corrosive media, high-viscosity media, or media requiring frequent cleaning.

Pharmaceutical: Used in piping systems demanding high cleanliness and easy sterilization.

Food and Beverage: For piping systems requiring adherence to hygiene standards and ease of cleaning.

Civil Sector:

Building Construction: In water supply and heating systems requiring periodic maintenance.

Swimming Pool Equipment: Controlling the circulation and filtration of pool water.

To summarize, ball valves are a key component in fluid control, providing efficient and reliable solutions in a variety of areas such as construction, industrial pipework and agricultural irrigation. Simplex ball valves are easy to use and suitable for basic fluid control tasks, while unilateral and bilateral ball valves provide bi-directional flow control and easy maintenance.Ball valves manufactured by ERA stand out for their durability, high pressure resistance and excellent corrosion resistance, and the excellent performance and long-term stability of fluid management systems are guaranteed through quality materials and rigorous manufacturing processes. Welcome to visit our website for more product details.