Actuated ball valves are mechanisms that use a rotating ball to control the flow of fluid through a pipe system. Instead of requiring manual operation, the valve is opened and closed by a power actuator that sits on top of the valve and provides the necessary force and motion.
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Ball valves use a spherical disc with a hole bored through the center to create or close off passageways. Other kinds of ball valves have a lever, handle or hand wheel that must be physically engaged to create the necessary motion that turns the ball so the hole does not permit flow. Actuated ball valves use an external power source so that the valve can be operated remotely or automatically. They are necessary for valves that are located in remote areas or in pipe lines that are difficult to access, such as underground systems. Power actuators are particularly useful when the valve is throttled; that is, when the valve is partially opened or closed for tighter control of the current. They are also used for valves that are very large and would consequently require impractical amounts of physical effort. Actuated ball valves are also used in toxic or harsh environments for safety reasons. They may also act as a safety feature because they can shut off pipes almost instantly. These valves are found in virtually every industry that uses pipes for transporting liquids, gases or slurries.
Actuated ball valves are typically electric and use a motor drive to create the torque necessary to operate the valve. Actuated ball valves are identical to standard ball valves in terms of the way the valve functions. A chrome ball inside the steel, brass or plastic body of the valve rotates in accordance with the movement of the actuator. A straight hole is bored through its center to allow the pipe's contents to flow through it. The size of the hole and the ball vary; a reduced port ball valve has a ball that is smaller than the size of the passageway with a hole that is even smaller. This significantly restricts the flow. Standard port actuated ball valves have a hole that is smaller than the passageway while full port ball valves have an over sized ball that allows the hole to be the same diameter of the pipe. Full port valves offer the highest flow rates because there is no restriction. Like many ball valves, actuated ball valves are quarter turn valves because the stem that rotates the ball only needs to turn 90° in order to open and close the valve. Other variations include the number of holes, or ports, in the ball. Different arrangements allow one actuated ball valve to direct the flow into a number of passageways simultaneously (like a 3 way valve for example), one at a time, or not at all.
