A ball valve can be motorized.
The different motorized valves include gate, ball, butterfly and globe variants, each with its own advantages and specific areas of use. A motorized valve is one that opens or closes by remote means, usually an electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic actuator, rather than manually. Motorized valves are available in a wide variety of designs, sizes and actuator types suitable for applications ranging from small domestic systems to large industrial installations. Most motorized valves differ only in their method of actuation, the valve itself being exactly the same as its manual counterparts.
One of the most common types of motorized valve is the gate valve. Also known as a gate valve, it uses a flat plate that is raised or lowered to open or obstruct the flow of material. The plates can be round or rectangular and form a set of grooves or guides on each side of the valve body. When fully open, these motorized valves offer no restriction to the flow path and are suitable for large direct flow installations. Due to vibration of the disc or plate near their closing point, these types should only be used for full open/full closed applications and not as flow regulators.
Another popular motorized valve design is the ball valve. This type of valve features a polished ball with a hole in the center that rotates inside the valve body. When the hole is aligned with the tube, it allows material to flow through it. When turned at right angles to the tube, the ball stops the flow. Motorized ball valves belong to a family of products known as quarter turn valves due to their short actuation stroke. This makes it very fast to operate and ideal for fast response cutting. Ball valves also offer exceptional shear values with the mid ball arrangement achieving a perfect seal.
The butterfly valve is also part of the quarter-turn motorized valve family. This type of valve features the same type of plate as a gate valve, but is opened or closed by turning the gate through a 90-degree angle. These ports, or butterflies, are usually round, with the axis of the actuator in the center. The gate closes against a boss machined into the valve body and allows for quick operation and good sealing. These valves are also not suitable for use as flow regulators.
The globe valve is another common motorized valve design and is often used as a flow regulator due to its stability and accuracy. The globe valve consists of an internal channel or deflector that directs flow through an opening. A conical stopper moves in and out of this opening to open or close it. The conical profile of the plug allows a very precise and progressive flow restriction. These motorized valves are also suitable for applications where the valve is frequently opened and closed.