Ball Valve Floating Ball

We produce the floating ball as the core sealing element of a floating ball valve. Each sphere is finished to a mirror-grade surface and held to ±0.01 mm dimensional tolerance, so it self-aligns against the downstream seat and forms a reliable seal under line pressure. As a dedicated ball valve component manufacturer in China, we supply forged and stainless floating balls in volume, with optional electroless nickel plating (ENP) and sour-service grades to match your valve design.

For small-to-medium bores (NPS 1/2–8), the floating-ball design is the most cost-effective choice: the ball is not fixed by a trunnion and drifts slightly under upstream pressure to press against the downstream seat, so no extra support is needed and breakaway torque stays low. GFE uses a double-line sealing structure on the seat, which naturally relieves the valve seat and ensures reliable sealing under high, low and vacuum environments. For very low pressure or vacuum service, a leaf-spring loaded seat ensures long-term sealing. The valve stem uses a flat-square head so operators can instantly identify open/closed status by handle position. A boss structure at the lower part of the stem prevents stem blow-out even if packing or thrust bearings are damaged by fire.

•Self-energizing seat seal: line pressure pushes the ball into the downstream seat, so sealing tightens as pressure rises — lower leak risk in high-pressure service.
•Stem anti-blow-out: a boss at the lower stem prevents the stem from being ejected by cavity pressure, even if packing or bearings are burned away in a fire.
•Anti-static device: an electrostatic channel between ball–stem–body discharges static charge accumulated on the ball, preventing sparks in flammable service.
•Fire-safe structure: once the soft seat is burned away, the ball contacts a metal sealing surface on the body to prevent large-scale leakage; design complies with API 607, GB/T 6899 and BS 6755 Part II.
•Locking device: a positioning piece with keyhole locks the valve at fully open or fully closed positions, preventing misoperation on outdoor or critical lines.
•Automatic cavity pressure relief: when cavity pressure rises abnormally, the seat is pushed to relieve pressure automatically, ensuring valve safety.
•Full-bore & reduced-bore options: full-bore allows pipeline pigging with minimal fluid resistance; reduced-bore weighs ~70% of full-bore and costs less.

Compatible media: water, steam, oil, liquefied gas, natural gas and general industrial fluids. With sour-service material selection (NACE MR0175), it handles natural gas and oil containing H₂S and CO₂. Available for cryogenic (-196℃), fire-safe and high-temperature (up to 550℃ with metal seal and high-temperature composite structure) customization per project.

•Body material: forged steel (A105) / cast steel (WCB) / stainless / duplex / nickel-base alloy (by media).
•Bore type: full bore (pigging-capable) or reduced bore (cost-saving).
•Seat seal: PTFE / reinforced PTFE / PPEK/DEVLON / metal seal + high-temperature composite (by temperature).
•Operation: handle / worm gear / pneumatic / electric.
•End connection: flanged (RF) / socket weld / butt weld (per project spec).
•Special service: fire-safe (API 607), anti-static, sour service (NACE MR0175), cryogenic, locking device.
•Customization: flange and weld-end dimensions can be manufactured per user drawings.

•Oil & Gas: isolation on transmission and station piping; sour-service grades for H₂S.
•Chemical: corrosive-medium lines with stainless / alloy body selection.
•Power: on/off in steam and utility systems.
•Water Treatment: general fluid isolation balancing cost and performance.

Manufactured under API 6D, API 607, API 608, CE, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 15848-1, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 certified quality system. Hydrostatic shell and seat-leakage tests, pneumatic test (0.6 MPa), material test certificates (MTC), dimensional inspection and NDT can be supplied per order. The company is equipped with spectrometer, mechanical performance test, impact testing, hardness test, valve pressure test machine, ultrasonic thickness measurement and ultrasonic flaw detection.

Q: How do I choose between floating and trunnion-mounted ball?
A: For NPS 1/2–8 up to Class 600, the floating ball is simpler and more cost-effective; for larger bore (above 8") or higher pressure (Class 900+), choose the GFE fixed (trunnion-mounted) series.

Q: Is the seal reliable at low pressure or vacuum?
A: Yes — a leaf-spring loaded seat structure ensures long-term reliable sealing when medium pressure alone cannot guarantee a seal.

Q: Can the valve be used in sour service?
A: Yes. Sour-service grades use NACE MR0175 compliant materials for all wetted parts including fasteners.

Q: What happens to the seal in a fire?
A: The fire-safe structure (API 607 compliant) ensures that once the soft seat is burned, the ball contacts a metal sealing surface on the body, preventing large-scale leakage.

Q: Can flange dimensions be customized?
A: Yes — flange and weld-end dimensions can be designed and manufactured per user requirements.