A motorized ball valve is a valve that uses a rotating ball to control the current of a gas or liquid as it flows through a pipe line. These valves use a motor instead of a manual actuator to open and close. This is beneficial for certain valves because it is impractical, impossible or dangerous to do it manually. 
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Ball valves are usually stainless steel, brass or PVC and use a chrome ball with a straight hole drilled into it to direct the flow of a gas, liquid or slurry as it passes through the valve. Non-motorized valves have a lever or hand wheel that operators must physically flip or turn in order to rotate the ball and open or close the valve. For example, actuated ball valves use motors to flip. That is, motorized ball valves have power actuators that can be controlled remotely or automatically, which is helpful for underground pipes or pipe lines in remote areas because those pipe systems are difficult to access. Motorized ball valves are also useful when the valve is partially opened or closed for tighter flow control. They are commonly used for large pipes that would require impractical amounts of physical effort. Motorized ball valves contribute to a safe working environment because they can be used in toxic or hazardous conditions and can provide an almost immediate shut-off in the case of an emergency. These valves are found in basically every industry that uses pipes for transporting liquids, gases or slurries.
Motorized ball valves use an electric motor to create torque that rotates the stem and, in turn, the ball. Motorized ball valves are the same as standard ball valves in terms of function and purpose. Inside the housing of the valve is a ball with at least one hole drilled through. When the ball is rotated, the holes of the ball rotate to match up with different passageways, directing the flow of the fluid. On top of the valve is the plastic or steel enclosure containing the motor, the valves may be flanged. The size of the hole and the ball vary. A motorized ball valve with a reduced port has a ball smaller than the diameter of the connecting pipes with an even smaller hole to significantly restrict the flow. A full port ball valve has an over sized ball so that the hole through the ball is the same diameter of the pipe, and a standard port valve has a ball the size of the passageway with a hole that is slightly smaller than the pipe but not small enough to drastically alter the flow. The balls in these valves may also have more than one straight hole. Some holes are drilled so that they form an L- or T-shape in order to accommodate a variety of pipe systems and arrangements.
