There are many types of ball valves usable in various industries. In addition, ball valves come in various shapes and sizes, and only minute details differentiate them.
The long list of ball valves includes full bore valves and reduced bore valves. These two bore valves are easily confusable.
However, they perform different functions. Furthermore, they differ in design and functionality, so it’s vital to differentiate the two valves. Here’s a detailed breakdown of reduced and full bore valves.
Full Bore Valves
As the name suggests, full bore valves open entirely. This full opening allows for the passage of liquids and gases through a pipe or tube. Moreover, the flow channel’s width is equal from the inlet to the outlet.
Full bore valves are smaller than the bores of the connecting pipes or tubes. As a result, it offers smaller flow resistance. Such resistance is excellent for demanding conditions. Industries such as oil and gas companies utilize full bore valves because most of them need pigging.
Compared to reduced valves, full bore valves are more expensive. Therefore, they are only usable where free flow is necessary.
Reduced Bore Valves
The ball valve opening is much smaller than that of the connecting end. Usually, industries utilize the reducing ball valve in feeding materials to tanks and other storage facilities.
Unlike the full bore valve, reducing valves are more suitable for low requirements. Also, factories or industries that need low convection resistance, like refineries, prefer reducing bore valves.
Nonetheless, the reduced diameter of these valves has the following impacts:
• Reduced flow capacity
• Increased pressure drop at both ends of the valve
• Loss of energy increasing pipeline erosion
Choosing between a reduced and full bore valve depends on the intended use. Reducing bore valves are smaller and need less installation space. Moreover, they reduce transportation costs and the pipe load. As a result, the valves last for much longer.
