Why are the full port ball valve and the reduced port ball valve so important? Before moving on to this part, it is vital to understand the concept of a ball valve. A ball valve is a perforated, turning, hollow ball to keep the flow rate of the fluid. It has a small hole in the center. This ball sets among the two seats. A wrench handle or an actuator maintains the ball’s direction. The valve can keep, direct, guide, and modulate the flow of various kinds of fluids.

These fluids are vapors, gases, and liquids. The valve’s ball closes or opens the fluid via rotating an actuator. This rotation is at the angle of 90 degrees clockwise or anticlockwise position. It initiates the flow when the ball’s hole is parallel to the direction of fluid flow. The wrench handle turns anticlockwise to 90 degrees; the ball stops the fluid flow. Ball valve has various applications like cooling, processing, mixing, and pneumatic circuits. It is accessible in numerous sizes and styles. The bore size classifies all the ball valves. The bore size is the size of the opening in the ball that fluid flows through.

What is the Full Port Ball Valve?

A full port ball valve is also known as the full bore ball valve. It has the same interior bore size as the small size. For instance, a 2-inch full-bore ball valve has a 2-inch valve opening inside the ball. The internal pipe dimension is also 2 inches. Yet, the main benefit is pressure and friction drop when the application streams by the valve. Also, it creates less resistance. It applies in that application where the pipping and less resistance are needed. Yet, the pressure drop can also disturb the pipe’s working. Although, this complete port ball valve is more expensive than other port ball valves. It also needs more material while making this port.

Components of Full Port Ball Valve.

• Body
• Ball
• Stem Bushing
• Body cap
• Packing
• Lever
• ·Seats

When to Apply the Full Port Ball Valve

The full port ball valve works in the same condition as the reducing port ball valve. Yet, it gives the advantage of reducing the pressure drop over the port ball valve. It is particularly essential to note that the use which regulates the stream rate is required. Yet, the tubing of the media will move by small with less alteration in the path. It gives less resistance to stream. Yet, it suggests a liquid and solid flow framework by the valves. The initial design decreases the chance of the valve link building outer and inner sides. It will affect the working of the ball valve with time.

Reducing or Standard Port Ball Valve

A standard port ball valve has a restricted and narrow streamway in the inner diameter of the pipeline. Notably, an ¾ inches standard port ball valve has an ½ inches tube size ball opening. Parallel to the full port ball valve, it has a more significant energy loss. Yet, it has a high velocity, friction, and pressure drop.

Reducing the port ball valve has its power. A more rigid body leads to less price. Thus, those uses have no firm demands on the stream rate but higher needs on the material like the entire stainless body. The standard port ball valve is less expensive than the complete one.

When to Apply the Reduced Port Ball Valves

Reduced port ball valves are suitable for most uses that demand ball valves. They are rigid and meet their functions while covering less space. Due to this, they are holding the costs down. It provides the following;

• fast operation

• durability

• on-off function

• style of ball valve

• Ensure leak-tight seal

A standard port ball valve implies slight stream turbulence and moderate pressure drop. Alterations in stream rate are distinctive in most piping systems—the diameter of pipe portions twists in the framework. Yet, the most critical aspect is whether the system state will be concerned with the flow rate. It is enough to reduce the port ball valve. In most uses, the difference between a reduced port ball valve and a full port ball valve will be minor in the flow rate of the piping system.

How does the standard or Reduced port ball valve work?

The standard port ball valve applies a ball with a bore at its center part—the ball links to the actuator or hand lever via the stem. A standard port ball valve rotates the ball for an angle of 90 degrees. Yet, to open this ball valve, the handle rotates from a quarter turn, creating the stem. The ball turns for equal quarter turns. For the angle of 90 degrees, the boring ball bore and the pipeline becomes collinear. Yet, this will make the liquid stream by the valve. The handle turns again to turn off the standard bore ball valve for another 90 degrees. It will create the ball bore. The pipeline will be perpendicular stops the liquid stream.

Kinds of a Reduced bore ball valve.

• Single piece reduces bore ball valve.

The Single-piece reduced bore ball valve is a valve that composes one part of the body created via flinging. Single-body reduced bore ball valves are great in releasing from spillage. It is the least expensive of all ball valves. Yet, single-piece bore ball valves can’t open for cleaning, fixing, and keeping. Single-piece reduced bore ball valves are applied in less-required applications. These valves pitch when they enable issues.

Sizes range:

• 2-piece reduced bore ball valve

This kind of valve comprises two pieces. One piece contains the end link and the valve body. In contrast, the other piece includes the link and trim. The 2 portions of the two-piece reduced ball valve fixed into the central part. This valve disassembles for cleaning, inspecting, and repairing. A two-piece bore ball valve is removed from the pipeline to isolate the two portions.

• Three-piece reduced bore ball valve.

It is a reduced-bore ball valve with three pieces: two end covers and the valve body. Nuts links keep the three pieces in this reduced bore ball valve relations. Each of the three pieces of this reduced bore ball valve removes the middle piece of the stem and ball. Yet, the seats are also removed from the pipelining system. The three-piece reduced bore ball valve exalts cleaning.

Substitute of glands packing, seats, and cleaning little gashes on the ball’s outer layer. Such services are performed on this valve without destroying the valve from the pipeline. Three-piece reduced bore ball valves are costlier compared with different valves.

All About the Port Sizes 

Port size is the size of the primary that liquid moves via when the ball valve is in the open state. There are various kinds of port sizes when it approaches ball valves. These ports are reduced and full ports.

Reduced Port Ball Valve

The reduced or standard port ball valve has an opening via the ball that is one pipe smaller than the valve’s pipe size. It is smaller than a full port ball valve as the ball is not significant.

Full Port Ball Valve

The full port ball valve has no limitation to stream via the valve. This is due to the opening in the ball being close to the same size as the pipe. A gigantic ball is compulsory to meet these conditions. It makes the ball valve more significant. Here is the port size or opening diameter needed for the ball valve to be considered a port.  

Are the other kinds of valves classified by Port Size?

The port size in other kinds of valves tends not to vary. The glove valves and gate valves are almost full port by their design. It is due to their particular functions. The gate valve opens and closes valves to fit in the flat disc or gate around the port. In contrast, the globe valve throttles media flow while pressuring it to change direction via valves. There is not much applied for various port sizes in these valves. Yet, the gas and oil industry rarely has a non-full port globe and gate valves. However, these are not common.

Application of Reduced Port Ball Valve

This ball valve is mainly applied for transmitting gas. Yet, it uses medium physical working, similar to water in the pipeline system. Or it is used where the pressure drops turbulence in the stream. The substantial properties are not a concern. It is the regular selection as its weight is about 30% lighter. Yet, its cost is less than a full port ball valve.

Application of Full Port Ball Valve

The bore of this ball valve has no limit in the tubing. When it completely opens in the tubing, you cannot look at any boundary in the tube. The full port ball valve is the best key when pressure is a concern. For example, in the pump suction piping system, a pressure reduction affects the working of the pump. Yet, the full port ball valve is compulsory. It also applies to the cleaning processes.

It is the best selection where pigging of way lines is the primary concern. Another application of this ball valve is its use in the gas and oil industries. A full port ball valve is pushed via the piping system to clean the inner side of the pip. Yet, the pig would get stuck on a reduced port ball valve.

Similarities Between Full Port Ball Valve and Reduced Port Ball Valve

Both reduced and full port ball valves have the same function and design. Yet, both are accessible in a similar size, pressure rating, and material. Both are equipped with electric manual and pneumatic actuators. Yet, these have the same connections as screwed, welded ends, and flanged.

How do we know if a Full Port Ball valve or Reduced Port Ball Valve is enough?

Some applications need a full port ball valve due to the properties of their applications. For instance, if lower stream resistance is required. In the case of a pump suction pipe, the pressure down can affect the pump efficiency. Yet, the full port ball valve is the best selection to regulate the stream rate unless your application needs a full port ball valve.

The reduced port ball valve is the default valve for most applications. It gives a cost-effective path to maintain the flow in various uses. Besides, where space limits are frequently a problem, their rigid plan gets the work done with a more petite ball valve body, as long as flow turbulence or pressure down suits your system.

Final Thoughts:

The reduced port ball valve is the usual selection. Yet, its weight is about 30% lighter than the full port. Yet, its cost is less than a full port ball valve. It also has a smaller size and needs less installation area. For the full port ball valve these are larger than the reduced port. Yet, it is more costly and weight than a reduced port ball valve. It applies where the flow is unrestricted.