Figure 1. Stainless steel floating ball valve with flanged ends

Main Types of Ball Valves (Ball Valve Classification)

Ball valves can be classified in four ways: by mounting design, by bore size, by body construction and by flow path. Understanding each classification helps you match the valve to the duty.

Floating Ball Valve vs Trunnion-Mounted Ball Valve

Floating ball valve - the ball floats freely between two seats. When the valve closes, upstream pressure pushes the ball against the downstream seat, creating a tight seal. The design is simple, compact and cost-effective, which makes it the most common choice for moderate pressure, smaller sizes and general isolation service.

Trunnion-mounted ball valve - the ball is fixed by top and bottom trunnions, and the seats are pressed against the ball. This lowers operating torque and keeps sealing stable under high pressure and in large diameters. Choose trunnion-mounted valves for high-pressure, large-bore and critical pipeline applications such as oil and gas transmission.

Full Bore vs Reduced Bore

Full bore (full port) - the ball opening matches the pipe inside diameter, so there is no flow restriction. Full bore valves are required for pipeline pigging and are ideal for slurry, viscous media and services where pressure drop must be kept to a minimum.

Reduced bore (standard port) - the ball opening is one or two nominal sizes smaller than the line. This makes the valve lighter, more compact and lower in cost, at the expense of a slightly higher pressure drop. Choose reduced bore for routine isolation where full flow is not critical.

One-Piece, Two-Piece and Three-Piece Bodies

One-piece - the most economical design, best suited to simple on-off service where the valve is replaced rather than repaired.

Two-piece - the most widely used construction, balancing price, performance and serviceability.

Three-piece - the body can be opened without removing the valve from the pipeline, making it the preferred choice for welded installations, frequent maintenance and high-pressure applications.

2-Way, 3-Way and V-Port Ball Valves

Standard 2-way ball valves provide simple isolation. 3-way valves with an L-port or T-port ball divert or mix flow in a single unit, saving space and fittings. V-port ball valves carry a V-shaped notch that gives a more linear flow characteristic, so they are often used for throttling and regulating duties rather than pure on-off service.

Table 1. Ball Valve Types at a Glance

Type	Key Feature	Best For
Floating ball valve	Ball pressed against seat by line pressure	Moderate pressure, small-to-medium sizes, general isolation
Trunnion-mounted ball valve	Ball fixed by top and bottom trunnions; lower torque	High pressure, large diameters, critical pipelines
Full bore valve	Bore matches pipe ID; no flow restriction	Pigging, slurry, minimum pressure drop
Reduced bore valve	Bore one or two sizes smaller; compact and economical	General isolation, cost-sensitive lines
3-way valve (L-port / T-port)	One valve diverts or mixes flow	Flow diversion, mixing, manifold systems
V-port valve	V-shaped ball opening; linear flow characteristic	Throttling and flow regulation

Figure 2. Different ball valve types: two-piece, trunnion-mounted and three-piece designs

How to Choose a Quality Ball Valve: 7-Point Checklist

Once you know which type you need, use this checklist to judge the quality of the valve and the supplier.

1. Match the body material to the media. Carbon steel (WCB) suits general oil, water and gas service; stainless steel (CF8/CF8M, 304/316) resists corrosive and hygienic media; duplex and super duplex grades handle sour gas service with NACE MR0175 compliance.

2. Confirm the pressure class and temperature range. Check the ANSI Class (150, 300, 600, 900, 1500 or 2500) or the applicable JIS/DIN rating, and make sure the seat and body materials cover your process temperature.

3. Choose the right seat material. PTFE suits general chemical service (about -50 to +200 °C); RPTFE adds strength for cycling duty (about -50 to +232 °C); PEEK handles higher pressure and temperature (up to about +260 °C); metal seats are required above 200 °C or for abrasive media.

4. Verify the end connections. Threaded, flanged, socket-weld and butt-weld ends must match your piping and maintenance plan.

5. Check standards compliance. Ask for valves designed to API 608 or API 6D, tested to API 598, and fire-safe certified to API 607/ISO 10497 where required. ISO 17292 and ASME B16.34 are also common design bases.

6. Look for essential safety features. Blow-out-proof stem, anti-static device and fire-safe design are must-haves for flammable or hazardous media.

7. Audit the manufacturer. Check traceable material certificates, hydrostatic and pneumatic test records, a reliable quality system and responsive after-sales support.

Figure 3. Quality check: measuring the ball and PTFE seat with a caliper

Ball Valve FAQ

Q1. What is the difference between a floating and a trunnion-mounted ball valve?

In a floating ball valve, line pressure pushes the ball against the downstream seat to create the seal. In a trunnion-mounted valve, the ball is fixed top and bottom while the seats move, which reduces torque and keeps sealing stable at high pressure and large sizes.

Q2. When should I use a full bore ball valve?

When the pipeline needs pigging or cleaning, when pressure drop must be minimized, or when the media is slurry or highly viscous.

Q3. What materials are ball valves made of?

Bodies are commonly carbon steel (WCB), stainless steel (CF8/CF8M, 304/316) or alloy and duplex steel; seats are usually PTFE, RPTFE, PEEK or metal, depending on pressure and temperature.

Why Choose Sunrise as Your Ball Valve Supplier

XIAMEN SUNRISE IMP&EXP CO., LTD is a professional one-stop oil pipeline spare parts supplier. Our main products include valves, pipes, pipe flanges, pipe fittings, plates, fasteners and gaskets. With integrated R&D, manufacturing and export services, we supply both conventional and customized products with professional support at every stage. For a quotation or technical advice on ball valves, contact us at Janisa@xiruicn.com or +86 139-5012-2117.

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Ball Valve Types & Selection Guide: How to Choose Quality Valves

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Learn the main ball valve types - floating vs trunnion, full bore vs reduced bore - and how to choose a quality ball valve for your piping system.

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Stainless steel floating ball valve with flanged ends from Sunrise

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Ball valve types comparison: two-piece, trunnion-mounted and three-piece ball valves

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Ball valve quality inspection: measuring ball and PTFE seat with caliper

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Link to existing posts "Ball Valve: Complete Guide to Types, Working Principle, Materials & Selection" and "Ball Valve Principle, Explained in 90°" already published on this blog.