Collection:3-Way Electric On/Off Stainless Steel Ball Valves
Explore Tameson’s wide range of 3-way stainless steel electric ball valves from various global manufacturers. 3-way electric ball valves, also called 3-way motorized ball valves, are used to con...
3-Way Electric On/Off Stainless Steel Ball Valves
Explore Tameson’s wide range of 3-way stainless steel electric ball valves from various global manufacturers. 3-way electric ball valves, also called 3-way motorized ball valves, are used to control the flow of a media (liquid or gas) by means of a rotating ball with a bore. The rotating ball is controlled by an electric actuator that connects directly to the ball valve stem, rotating it a quarter turn. A 3-way stainless steel electric ball valve can be broken down into two main components, namely, the electric actuator (servo motor) and the ball valve. A 3-way ball valve has three ports. They are available in two design types: L-port and T-port. This refers to the bore design in the ball, which is the media flow path. With a 3-way ball valve T-port or L-port, it is possible to mix, distribute, or divert the media flow. A 3-way T-port valve can be used for mixing media from two inlets into a single outlet or for distributing one inlet to two outlets. The 3-way L-port ball valve is designed for flow direction control. The L-port valve has a 90-degree bore inside of the ball, hence the name L-port. An example of an application is to have two inputs from separate tanks and one output, and you want to only use one of the inputs but always the one output. It is important to know your bore design to ensure your desired media flow, as the ports can be in different positions. The pressure inlet for 3-way ball valves is typically on the center borehole to avoid leakage unless defined otherwise in the product specifications. These motorized 3-way ball valves can be controlled remotely to switch between the circuits. If electrical voltage is already available, a 3-way control valve is a good investment to automate the process.
A 3-way stainless steel ball valve has a housing made of stainless steel. Stainless steel is used for aggressive and corrosive media. The material is durable and strong. 3-way stainless steel electric ball valves are resistant to high pressures, temperatures, and abrasion. They are used in many high-pressure applications like industrial or petroleum sectors. The most common types of stainless steel used in 3-way electric ball valves are 304 and 316, of which 316 steel has the best corrosion resistance. For some media, such as chloride solutions, stainless steel (mostly 304) is not recommended, and PVC can be used instead.