Many of our customers and users are confused and asking how to select a correct brass ball valve, meanwhile it's very important to choose properly to ensure usage and safety of their projects and applications. NAFCO as a professional China brass ball valve manufacturer and supplier with global service experiences, we're pleased to share some steps and tips of how to select suitable brass ball valves, to help you understand make the correct selection before you buying and purchasing.
1. The manufacturing standard of brass ball valves
Different manufacturing standards make the brass ball valve different in designs, structures and shapes. There’re mainly four standards: US standard for USA market, BS and DIN standard for European market, and JIN standard for Japan and Asian market. Each standard has separate producing and quality requirements.
1. The manufacturing standard of brass ball valves
Different manufacturing standards make the brass ball valve different in designs, structures and shapes. There’re mainly four standards: US standard for USA market, BS and DIN standard for European market, and JIN standard for Japan and Asian market. Each standard has separate producing and quality requirements.
2. The working flow type of brass ball valves
Water, oil and gas are most common flow media for brass ball valves, the gas and air flow have stricter requirement for seal tightness, and the design and manufacturing process are different. There are also flow control systems responsible for the proper flow of chemicals in large industries. There are special valves that are designed to ensure that fluid will not be leaked. It is also important to determine if there are corrosive elements that will be involved. This will be helpful in choosing the material composition of the valve.
3. The port size and flow rate of brass ball valves
The port size determines the flow rate of brass ball valves, and different applications have specific requirements for flow rate. There’re reduced port, standard port brass ball valves and full port brass ball valves, generally speaking, the bigger port sizes, the more efficient flow rate, meanwhile the stronger working pressure and the higher product costs.
4. The working environment of brass ball valves
The pressure and temperature are most critical factors of brass ball valve working environment. The main working pressure of brass ball valve ranges from PN10 (150Psi) to PN40 (600Psi) , temperature from -10℃ to 120℃. The higher PN rating can stand higher working pressure, also the weights are heavier and prices are higher. It’s important to acknowledge what’s working pressure and temperature of your projects and applications, before your decide to buy a brass ball valve.
5. The raw material of brass ball valves
Brass material, determined by markets and standards, and is main factor of quality and costs, because the physical properties are different for different materials. For example, US market requires no-lead brass material for drinking water; CW614N and CW617N brass are more popular in European market, DZR brass is necessary for sea-by applications to prevent dezincification. Please refer to our article “How to Select China Brass Valve Material”, where you will have better and full knowledge.
6. The end connections of brass ball valves
Threads are used to connect the brass ball valves to pipelines, which depends on the requirements of your projects. There are BSP threads for European market, NPT threads for US market, soldering ends or flange connects. There is also female and male thread type, which used to connection of different thread types.
7. The surface treatment of brass ball valves
Rough brass color, nickel-plating, and chrome-plating are most widely used surface treatments for brass ball valves. Plating helps to protect the brass valve from oxygen and look shining.
8. The handle type of brass ball valves
Flat handle and butterfly T-handle are available, the flat handle (normally made of steel) have longer opening torque and is easier to open and close the brass ball valves; the butterfly handle (normally made of aluminum) is most used for the applications that have limited space to operate the handle, and most applied for brass ball valves smaller than 1”.
In summary, by following this simple selection guide, you will be on the right track of choosing the correct brass ball valve fit for your applications. This will also help you find the specific type that is within your budget stretch.
That's all for How to Select Brass Ball Valve
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