Compact Ball Valves
When should you use a compact ball valve? The answer to that question may be surprisingly simple, as it's found right in the question. If something is compact, then it's most likely small, and an excellent choice when a valve application includes installation in a small, fairly inaccessible location. Compact ball valves are perfect for spaces too small for ordinary sized ball valves.
Compact Ball Valves
Compact ball valves are typically constructed of PVC or other thermoplastic material, making them an excellent choice for potable water applications, pools and aquariums, chemical processing, the medical field, and for use on manufacturing lines.
They are corrosion resistant, will never rust, and are completely non-toxic. Lightweight and incredibly durable, thermoplastic ball valves are compatible with a variety of media, and are a superb choice for outdoor applications, as they are weather resistant, as well. They are also completely lead free.
As indicated earlier, compact ball valves were specifically designed to be used where a normal sized ball valve with equal internal diameters will not fit. The housings of these valves have been specially constructed to take up as little space as possible while preserving their structural integrity, and allowing equal or comparable flow and pressure found in their normal sized cousins. In order to get a better idea of what a compact ball valve might look like, consider these examples from Spears. And small in no way means a sacrifice on quality. PVC and CPVC compact ball valves are just as reliable, and capable, as any full size valve. Housings are often sealed units, incorporating full bore designs, high impact handles, and anti-shear stem designs. Rings and seals are equal, if not superior to, in reliability, durability, and longevity as full sized ball valves. The only real difference, of course, is in size.
When to Use
Considering that compact ball valves are small in stature but big in heart, the question as to where to use them is simple: anywhere you can't fit an ordinary ball valve. They're perfect for cramped spaces, like in older HVAC units that were never repairman friendly, assembly lines where space is at a premium, or any small piping system hidden away in a tight space. They may be used for a variety of applications, and are only limited by the compatibility of a media. If you found this article about compact ball valves interesting, and would like to know more about other PVC valves, please browse these valve choices from Hayward.