The options for ball valves seem endless. In order to choose the right ball valve, you have to decide which seat material? What kind of terminal connection? Full, Reduced or Standard Port? 2-way or multi-port type? the packaging?

In this article, we will discuss when you should use a three-piece ball valve.

What is a 3-piece ball valve?

Ball valves fall in one-piece, two-piece or three-piece. One-piece ball valves are relatively cheap and usually require no maintenance. A two-piece ball valve consists of two separate parts that are connected by a threaded or bolted and flanged assembly.

According to this law, you may have guessed that a three-piece ball valve consists of three pieces. Yes, there are two end caps and a valve body. The end caps are either welded, threaded or flanged to the piping on either side of the valve.

Why use a three-piece ball valve?

For projects with a large number of valve requirements, three-piece ball valves are more convenient than one-piece or two-piece ones. When seats and seals need to be replaced periodically, three-piece valves can be easily disassembled, repaired and reassembled without major cuts to the piping.

Three-piece ball valves also allow replacement of elastomers to accommodate different process conditions, temperatures, pressures and flow rates.

Do you need to weld the valve in the field? Another benefit of a 3 piece ball valve is the fact that it can remove the valve body and trims while welding. Because that, the body and trims can be kept intact.

What is the biggest difference between a 2 and 3 piece ball valve?

The two-piece ball valve was also designed in the view of easy maintenance. The major difference between the two is that the valve body on a three-piece valve can be removed without disturbing the two end caps. Two-piece ball valves usually do not allow this, let alone one-piece ball valves.

There are, of course, price differences. As mentioned earlier, one-piece valves are usually disposable. Three-piece valves tend to cost more initially, but in the long run, maintenance costs and the ability to replace the seat and seals should be kept in mind rather than replacing the valve.