What is a reduced bore ball valve

A reduced-bore ball valve, also known as a smaller-bore ball valve or a small-orifice ball valve, is a type of ball valve whose internal passage diameter is smaller than the diameter of the connecting pipe. The main purpose of this design is to reduce valve size, lower manufacturing costs, and increase fluid flow rate while maintaining fluid throughput, thereby achieving better fluid control.

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Features and Advantages of Reduced Bore Ball Valves

• Space Saving: Because the diameter of the ball's through-hole is smaller than the diameter of the connecting pipe, its overall size can be designed to be more compact, making it suitable for installation environments with limited space.
• Cost-effectiveness: Compared to standard ball valves of the same specifications, reduced-bore ball valves require less material and have lower manufacturing costs, especially for large-diameter valves, where the cost advantage is more obvious.
• Increased flow rate: When fluid passes through a reduced-bore ball valve, the flow rate increases due to the "contraction-expansion" process, which helps to improve fluid transport efficiency.
• Reduced pressure drop: Although the flow rate increases when the fluid passes through the reduced-bore ball valve, the pressure drop is not significant in actual use due to the good sealing between the ball and the valve seat, thus maintaining good fluid control performance.
• Highly adaptable: It can be widely used in conveying systems for various media such as water, oil, and gas, and is especially suitable for occasions that require rapid switching and have certain requirements on fluid flow rate.

reduced-bore ball valve Working Principle

The working principle of a reduced-bore ball valve is similar to that of a standard ball valve, mainly consisting of a valve body, ball, seat, and handle (or actuator). When the handle is rotated 90 degrees, the through-hole on the ball aligns with the channels at both ends of the valve body, allowing fluid to flow smoothly. Conversely, when the handle is rotated to the closed position, the ball tightly seals the seat, preventing fluid flow. The difference lies in the diameter of its ball through-hole, which is smaller than the diameter of the connecting pipes at both ends of the valve body. This causes the fluid to undergo a "contraction-expansion" process when passing through the ball valve: first contracting from the larger pipe diameter to the smaller ball through-hole diameter, and then expanding back from the ball through-hole to the larger pipe diameter.

reduced-bore ball valve Main structural dimensions and weight

reduced-bore ball valve Applications

Reduced-bore ball valves, due to their unique design and excellent performance, are widely used in various industries, including but not limited to:

• Oil and Gas Industry: Used for emergency shut-off and flow regulation in oil and gas field extraction and transportation pipelines.
• Chemical Industry: Used as safety valves or control valves at the inlet and outlet of chemical reactors and storage tanks.
• Pharmaceutical Industry: Ensures precise control of fluids during drug production, preventing contamination and leakage.
• Food and Beverage Industry: Ensures the safe transport of food-grade materials, meeting hygiene standards.
• Urban Water Supply and Drainage Systems: Used in waterworks, sewage treatment plants, and other locations to achieve effective water resource management.

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