What Is The Difference Between A Ball Valve And A Float Valve?

ball valves and floating valves differ greatly in definition, structure, working principle, application scenarios and functional characteristics, as follows:
1.Definitions and core functions
Ball valve
Definition: A valve that uses the ball as a starting and stopping member and drives the ball 90° around the shaft through the valve stem for opening and closing purposes.
Core function: mainly used to cut off, distribute or change the flow direction of medium in pipeline. Some types,such as V-ball valves, regulate flow.
Typical applications: Fluid control in petroleum, chemicals, electricity, public works, etc..
Float valve
Definition: A valve commonly used in gas-liquid separation equipment that automatically adjusts the opening of a valve when the level of liquid in a tower plate or container changes.
Core function: to control the flow of media through buoyancy, to keep the liquid level stable or to achieve gas-liquid separation.
Typical applications: industrial water treatment, chemical processing, tower equipment (such as float valve tray).
2.Structure and working principles
Ball valve structure
Ball: A perforated ball in the middle that serves as a starting and stopping point.
Seat: With the ball to achieve sealing, including rubber, metal, etc..
Drive mode: manual, pneumatic, electric, etc.
How it works: Turn the ball 90 degrees to align the pass with the pipe (on) or vertical (off) for quick opening and closing.
Float valve structure
Float: hollow sphere or float connected to the disc by a connecting rod.
Disc: Control the opening of media channels when the float is raised or lowered.
How it works: Floats drive the disc to close the channel when the liquid level rises; when the liquid level falls, the disc opens to replenish the medium.
3. Comparison of major differences
Ball Ball Float valve items
Liquid (gas/liquid) containers in pipes or in towers
Drive mode External power (manual/pneumatic/electric)
Fast on and off (90° rotation)
High sealing sealing ability, suitable for high pressure environment, low sealing requirements, attention to liquid level adjustment
Typical structure float valve, fixed ball valve, V-shaped ball valve circular float valve, belted float valve
Pipeline Cutting, Flow Adjusting, Liquid Level Control, Gas Liquid Separation
4. Selection and use of recommendations
ball valve Options
When the flow direction of the medium needs to be quickly cut or switched (e.g. emergency cut-off valve).
When the flow rate of media containing fiber and solid particles needs to be adjusted (choose V-ball valve).
High-pressure large caliber pipe (select fixed ball valve).
Avoid: Use common ball valves to regulate flow (wear the sealing surface).
float valve options
When the liquid level of the container needs to be stabilized automatically (e.g. water tank filling).
When gas-liquid separation equipment (such as float valve discs) is needed to improve mass transfer efficiency.
Note: Float valves is suitable for low pressure environment, high pressure environment requires special design.
V. Typical application cases
Ball valve Case:
chemical plant uses fixed ball valve to control high pressure steam pipe, service life is more than 10 years.
paper mill adopts V-ball valve to regulate pulp flow with accuracy ± 2%.
Float valve case:
Floating valves are used in sewage treatment plant to automatically control the level of the sedimentation tank and reduce manual intervention.
The gas-liquid separation efficiency of petroleum distillation is increased by 20%.