What Is a Ball Valve?

A ball valve is a quarter-turn rotary valve that uses a bored spherical closure element to control fluid flow. When the ball’s bore aligns with the pipeline, flow passes through; when rotated 90 degrees, the solid portion blocks flow. It is primarily used for isolation and tight shutoff in industrial systems. Ball valves represent one of the most widely deployed valve types within the industrial valve types overview.

Key Takeaways

• A ball valve operates using a 90-degree rotational spherical closure element that opens or closes the flow path in a single quarter-turn stroke.
• It provides low pressure drop when fully open — a full-port design presents a bore equal to the pipe ID, minimizing turbulence and energy loss.