Electric ball valve is an automated valve device that combines an electric actuator with a ball valve, widely used in multiple fields such as industry, chemical engineering, water supply, HVAC, petroleum, and natural gas.Its core feature is the ability to remotely control the on-off state of the ball valve via an electric device, enabling flow control of liquid or gas media.Electric ball valve not only inherits the fluid control advantages of ball valves but also simplifies the operation process through electric actuators, significantly improving the automation, intelligence, and safety of the valve.
Working Principle of Electric Ball Valve:
The main structure of an electric ball valve consists of a ball valve body, an electric actuator, valve body connectors, and other components.Its working principle can be briefly summarized as follows: the electric actuator controls the opening or closing of the ball valve via electrical signals to achieve fluid flow control.
Electric actuator control: The electric actuator converts external electrical signals into mechanical motion, driving the rotation of the ball valve’s stem and thereby controlling the rotation of the ball.
Ball rotation: The ball inside the ball valve has a through-hole; when the ball rotates to a certain angle, the hole aligns with the pipeline to enable or block fluid flow.Typically, a ball valve can achieve 90-degree rotation for full opening or full closing.
Feedback mechanism: Some electric ball valves are equipped with position feedback devices, which can real-time feedback the working status of the ball valve to ensure precise control of the system.
Structural Composition of Electric Ball Valve:
Electric ball valve is mainly composed of an electric motor, a transmission mechanism, a ball, a valve body, a sealing ring, and other parts.
- Electric motor: It is the power source of the electric ball valve; AC motors or DC motors are usually used, and appropriate power and speed are selected based on actual needs.The electric motor needs to be closely connected to the transmission mechanism to ensure the ball can respond to control signals quickly and accurately.
- Transmission mechanism: As a core component of the electric ball valve, the transmission mechanism transmits the power output by the electric motor to the ball to realize rotational control of the ball.The transmission mechanism is usually composed of a reducer, a coupling, a transmission shaft, a ball handle, and other parts.The reducer plays a speed-reducing role to enable the ball to respond to control signals quickly; the coupling connects the electric motor and the reducer to transmit power; the transmission shaft transmits power to the ball; the ball handle is a component for manual valve operation, usually installed above the ball.
- Ball: As a key component of the electric ball valve, the ball realizes fluid control and regulation through rotation.The ball is usually made of corrosion-resistant materials such as stainless steel, featuring good sealing performance and wear resistance.The ball is usually spherical or hemispherical in shape, with excellent fluid control performance.
- Valve body: As the outer shell of the ball valve, the valve body plays roles in support, connection, and sealing.The valve body is usually made of materials such as cast iron and stainless steel, with high strength and corrosion resistance.
Application Fields of Automated Ball Valve:
- Chemical industry: Electric ball valve can control the flow of media such as liquids, gases, and powders in chemical production processes, and it is an important component of chemical equipment.
- Petroleum and Natural Gas: In petroleum and natural gas pipeline transportation, electric ball valve can efficiently control flow to ensure safe and stable transportation.
- HVAC: In HVAC systems, electric ball valve is often used to regulate water flow and control temperature to provide a comfortable environment.
- Water treatment: Electric ball valve plays a key role in water treatment processes, especially in water supply and drainage pipeline systems, where it is used to regulate the on-off control of water flow.
- Food and beverage industry: In food and beverage production, electric ball valve is used for flow regulation and automated control to ensure hygiene and precise control in the production process.
Selection of Industrial Electric Ball Valve:
When selecting an electric ball valve, it is necessary to determine the appropriate valve type and actuator configuration based on specific working condition requirements, with the following key factors to consider:
- Flow requirements: Select the appropriate specification of electric ball valve based on the flow rate, pressure, and temperature of the medium in the pipeline.
- Power of electric actuator: Different electric actuators have different power and output torque; when selecting, it is necessary to check whether the driving force of the electric actuator can meet the opening or closing requirements of the ball valve.
- Medium type: Select suitable ball valve materials based on the type of fluid (e.g., water, oil, gas) to ensure the valve’s corrosion resistance and high-temperature resistance.
- Installation environment: The installation location and environment of the valve also need to be considered; especially in special environments (such as explosion-proof, anti-corrosion), it is necessary to select electric ball valves that meet specific standards.