1. Situations where ball valves are given priority selection
Just need to fully open / fully close, no need to adjust the flow rate.
The pipeline is only used for on-off control and does not require fine adjustment of flow rate or pressure. The ball valve is the preferred choice. It cannot precisely throttle and using it in a half-open state forcefully can easily wear the sealing surface and shorten its lifespan.
Require fast opening and closing speed and frequent operation.
The valve needs to be frequently opened and closed (such as in daily water supply and drainage, gas pipelines, and circulating water systems). The ball valve can be opened and closed by rotating 90 degrees, with a smooth operation and minimal wear on the valve core, making it more durable.
Pursuing low resistance and large flow rate transportation
The medium should flow smoothly and minimize pressure loss (such as water, gas, and low-pressure fluid main pipelines). The straight-through flow path of the ball valve has extremely low resistance, and it has a stronger flow capacity at the same diameter.
Limited installation space and the desire for simplified construction
The ball valve has no requirements for the direction of the medium flow. It can be installed either forwards or backwards, making installation and maintenance much more convenient. It is also suitable for complex pipeline layouts.
Normal temperature and low pressure for conventional media
Water, gas, and common oil products, which are at room temperature and under low pressure, are suitable for ball valves. They offer high cost-effectiveness and are easy to maintain on a daily basis.
II. Situations where the stop valve is given priority selection
Need to implement throttling, pressure regulation and precise flow control
This is the most crucial function of the stop valve. The valve disc can remain at any opening position, allowing for precise control of the medium flow rate and pressure. It is suitable for pipelines where adjustment of the working conditions is required.
The medium is steam or high-temperature and high-pressure fluid.
In scenarios involving steam, high-temperature hot water, and high-pressure chemical media, the structure of the globe valve has superior pressure-bearing capacity and high-temperature resistance, as well as better sealing stability. It is a commonly selected option in the industry.
The pipeline must be capable of reliable shut-off and must prevent the risk of backflow.
The stop valve has a fixed flow direction. When combined with the pipeline design, it can effectively prevent the leakage of the medium. In boilers, thermal power networks, and chemical process pipelines, the sealing performance of the cut-off is more reliable.
The condition of infrequent opening and closing
The stop valve has a long opening and closing stroke and operates slowly. It is suitable for pipelines where the opening degree needs to remain constant for a long time and where there is little need for frequent opening and closing. It is also unlikely to be damaged when used for long-term throttling.
III. Supplementary Special Operating Condition Reminders
When the pipe diameter is large and the main function is to enhance the conveying efficiency, a ball valve should be chosen; when the pipe diameter is small and the focus is on process adjustment, a stop valve should be selected.
Corrosive medium: It is recommended to pair with ball valves of the corresponding material. The flow path has no dead corners and is not prone to accumulation of dirt or corrosion.
Budget considerations: For the same specifications, the price of conventional ball valves is lower. For large-scale civilian pipeline applications, priority should be given to them. For industrial high-temperature and high-pressure process pipelines, stop valves should be chosen as the priority; there is no need to worry about the price difference.