【2026 Valve Knowledge】Structural features and differences between O-ring ball valves and V-ball valves

Different valve seat sealing types are used for the valve seats depending on the operating conditions. The interior of the body of a ball valve of type O features a ball with an intermediate through-hole; this ball has a through-hole whose diameter is equal to that of the pipeline. The ball can rotate within the sealing seat, and ring-shaped elastic elements are located on each side of the pipeline direction to ensure sealing. The ball core of the V-type ball valve features a V-shaped structure; it is a 1/4 sphere with V-shaped notches, offering high flow capacity, a wide adjustment range, shear force, and the ability to seal tightly. It is particularly suitable for applications involving fluids containing fibrous materials.

A type O ball valve features a ball with an intermediate hole installed inside its valve body; this ball has a hole with a diameter equal to that of the pipeline. The ball can rotate within the sealing seat, and ring-shaped elastic elements are located on each side of the pipeline to ensure sealing. By rotating the sphere 90°, the direction of the through-hole can be changed, thereby enabling the opening and closing of the ball valve. O-type ball valves come in floating or fixed designs, and the moving parts are made of self-lubricating materials with an extremely low friction coefficient, which results in low operating torque. Additionally, the long-term sealing effect provided by the sealing grease enhances the flexibility of operation.

Structure and Features of O-Type Ball Valves Structure and Features of O-Port Ball Valves. O-type ball valves utilize a solid spherical valve core, resulting in a perfectly circular flow path; this leads to low flow resistance and fast switching speeds (only 90° rotation is required), making them suitable for applications where rapid shut-off is needed. It has excellent sealing properties and is suitable for use with gases, steam, liquids, and media containing a small amount of suspended particles. The O-port ball valve features an integrated spherical spool with a complete circular flow path, which results in low flow resistance and fast switching speed (only a 90° rotation is required). It is commonly used in applications that require quick shutdown. It offers good sealing performance and is suitable for gases, steam, liquids, and media with small amounts of suspended solids.

Advantages of O-type ball valves: 1) Low fluid resistance – Ball valves generally come in two configurations: full-bore and reduced-bore; in either case, their flow resistance coefficient is relatively low. Conventional ball valves are of the straight-through type, also known as full-flow ball valves; the diameter of their flow channel is equal to the inner diameter of the pipeline, and the pressure loss is only that resulting from friction in a pipeline of the same length. Among all valves, this ball valve has the lowest fluid resistance. There are two ways to reduce the resistance in a piping system: one is to lower the fluid flow velocity, by increasing the pipe diameter and the valve opening size, which will significantly increase the cost of the piping system. Secondly, to reduce the local resistance of valves, a ball valve is the best choice.

2) The O-type ball valve operates quickly and conveniently; it only needs to be rotated 90 degrees to achieve full opening or full closing, thus allowing for rapid switching on and off. 3) Ball valves of type O have excellent sealing performance. The seat of the vast majority of ball valves is made from elastic materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and they are commonly referred to as soft-seal ball valves. Soft-sealed ball valves offer good sealing performance, and they do not require high levels of roughness or precision in the sealing surfaces of the valve. 4) The O-type ball valve has a long service life due to the good self-lubricating properties of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or F4), which results in a low friction coefficient with the ball. The improved processing technique reduced the roughness of the balls, thereby significantly extending the service life of the ball valve.

5) The O-type ball valve boasts high reliability; the sealing pair consisting of the ball and the seat does not suffer from issues such as abrasion or rapid wear. By using an internal-mounted valve stem, the risk of the stem being ejected due to a loose packing gland under fluid pressure is eliminated； Ball valves with anti-static and fire-resistant structures can be used in pipelines for transporting oil, natural gas, and gas.   The valve core (sphere) of a ball valve of type O is spherical in shape; structurally, when sealed, the ball seat fits into the side seat of the valve body. The parts that move relative to each other are made of self-lubricating materials with an extremely low friction coefficient, resulting in low operating torque. Additionally, the long-term sealing provided by the sealing grease enhances operational flexibility. It is generally used for two-position control, with a fast-opening flow characteristic. When the O-type ball valve is fully open, it allows unobstructed flow on both sides, creating a straight-channel passage with dual sealing; it boasts excellent self-cleaning properties and is suitable for two-position shut-off applications involving particularly dirty media containing fibers. The ball core is in constant friction with the valve during its opening and closing processes. Meanwhile, the sealing between the valve core and the valve seat is achieved through a pre-sealing force exerted by the valve seat on the ball core; however, thanks to the excellent mechanical and physical properties of soft-sealing valve seats, their sealing performance is particularly good.

Two-way V-type ball valve: The ball core of this V-type ball valve features a V-shaped structure; it consists of a 1/4 sphere with V-shaped notches. It offers high flow capacity, a wide adjustable range, shear force, and the ability to close tightly, making it particularly suitable for applications involving fluids containing fibers. Under normal circumstances, V-type ball valves are single-seal ball valves. It is not suitable for two-way use.

V-shaped edge to cut off impurities. As the sphere rotates, its V-shaped cutting edge makes contact with the valve seat, thereby cutting off fibers and solid particles in the fluid. Conventional ball valves do not possess this function, which can lead to fibers and impurities getting stuck when the valve is closed, causing significant difficulties in maintenance. In a V-type ball valve, the valve core is not trapped by fibers. Furthermore, thanks to the flange connection design, it is easy to assemble and disassemble without the need for special tools, and maintenance is also simple and straightforward. When the valve is closed. A wedge-shaped shearing action is generated between the V-shaped notch and the valve seat, which provides self-cleaning functionality as well as prevents the ball core from getting stuck. The valve body, valve cover, and valve seat all adopt a metal-to-metal point-to-point structure; in addition, a valve stem spring with a low friction coefficient is used, resulting in low operating torque and high stability.  

A V-type ball valve features a right-angled rotating structure that enables flow regulation; by adjusting the V-angle of the V-shaped ball, different degrees of proportionality can be achieved. V-type ball valves are generally used in conjunction with valve actuators and positioners to enable proportional control. The V-type valve core is most suitable for various control applications, featuring a high rated flow coefficient, a large adjustable range, excellent sealing performance, zero sensitivity to regulation parameters, a small size, and the ability to be installed in either vertical or horizontal position. Suitable for controlling media such as gases, vapors, and liquids. The V-type ball valve features a right-angled rotary structure, and is composed of a V-shaped valve body, a pneumatic actuator, a positioner, and other accessories ； There is an inherent flow characteristic that is approximately in a 100:1 ratio ； It features a dual-bearing structure, resulting in low starting torque, excellent sensitivity and response speed, as well as strong shear capacity.