3-Way Ball Valves: Introduction, Features & Technical Parameters

3-way ball valves are mainly used in pipelines for cutting off, distributing and changing the flow direction of media. There are T-type and L-type 3-way ball valves. The T-type can connect and cut off three orthogonal pipelines to play the role of flow splitting and confluence. The L-type 3-way ball valve can only connect two orthogonal pipelines and cannot keep the third pipeline connected at the same time, so it only plays the role of distribution.

Features of 3-Way Ball Valves

1. Two-seat sealed 3-way ball valve: The L-type flow mode (sometimes called a 90-degree ball) is most commonly used to allow flow from a common inlet to one of two different outlets. That is why L-type flow 3-way ball valves are usually referred to as diverter valves.

2. Four-seat sealed 3-way ball valve: The T-type flow ball (sometimes also called a 180-degree ball) is widely used to take two inlet flows and merge them to flow out through a common outlet. Depending on process requirements, it can also be reversed. That is to say, split the flow from a common port into two outgoing flows, each leaving the valve through a different valve port. T-type flow valves are not limited to splitting or merging. They can also work like L-type flow valves and divert flow from one outlet to another. In an important way, T-type flow ball valves are quite different from L-type flow ball valves. A typical T-type flow valve cannot provide shut-off control. They can restrict flow to any two of the three valve ports, or allow flow through all three valve ports simultaneously. That is why T-type flow ball valves are sometimes called mixing valves.

Technical Parameters

• Product Name: 3-Way Ball Valve

• Nominal Diameter: DN15～DN300

• Structure Type: Spherical

• Nominal Pressure: 1.6MPa～6.4MPa

• Connection Method: Flanged, Internal Threaded

• Applicable Temperature: ≤350℃

• Drive Method: Manual, Electric Actuated, Pneumatic

• Valve Body Material: Cast Steel, Stainless Steel

• Manufacturing Standards: National Standard GB, German Standard DIN, American Standard API, ANSI

• Applicable Media: Water, Oil, Gas, Liquid