Trunnion Ball Valve vs Floating Ball Valve: Which Is Better for High Pressure?

WCB Trunnion Mounted Ball Valve Manufacturer
- The ball “floats” between two elastomeric or metal seats.
- When the valve closes, line pressure pushes the ball against the downstream seat, creating a seal.
- All pressure-induced force acts directly on the seats and valve body (no mechanical support for the ball).
- The ball is mounted on two short shafts (“trunnions”)—one at the top (connected to the actuator) and one at the bottom (secured to the valve body).
- These trunnions bear 90% of the ball’s weight and pressure-induced force, transferring stress to the valve body (not the seats).
- Sealing is achieved via spring-loaded seats (or pressure-assisted “double piston effect” seats ) that maintain contact with the ball without relying on line pressure.
- Standard trunnion models handle ANSI Class 1500 (≈3,600 psi) and 2500 (≈4,200 psi)—matching the pressure tolerance of 2205 duplex steel bodies .
- Specialized trunnion designs (e.g., forged 2205 duplex steel) reach ANSI Class 4500 (≈8,000 psi) or even subsea-rated pressures (10,000+ psi for offshore applications).
- Their pressure-driven sealing fails if line pressure fluctuates (e.g., sudden drops reduce ball-seat contact, causing leaks).
- High pressure wears seat surfaces over time—once seats degrade, the valve can’t seal, even after replacement.
- Spring-loaded or double piston effect (DPE) seats maintain consistent contact with the ball, regardless of pressure spikes or drops.
- Metal-to-metal seats (common in trunnion models) are machined from 2205 duplex steel—matching the valve body’s strength and corrosion resistance . They withstand 315°C+ temperatures and avoid degradation from aggressive fluids (e.g., hydrogen sulfide in oil pipelines).
- Trunnions eliminate seat stress, so seats last 3–5x longer than those in floating valves (reducing leakage risks between maintenance cycles).
- As pressure pushes the floating ball against seats, friction increases—requiring larger actuators or manual effort.
- Excess torque causes two critical failures:
- Valve 抱死: The ball sticks to the seats, making operation impossible (a common issue in high-pressure gas pipelines ).
- Stem damage: Torque overload bends or breaks the stem, leading to catastrophic leaks (floating valves lack the anti-blowout stem design of trunnion models ).
- Trunnions support the ball, so only minimal force is needed to rotate it (torque is 50–70% lower than floating valves at the same pressure).
- Lower torque reduces actuator size, cuts energy costs, and eliminates 抱死 /stem failure risks—critical for 24/7 automated systems (e.g., remote offshore platforms).
- Larger balls (6+ inches) are heavier—high pressure pushes them harder against seats, making operation impossible (even with actuators).
- Floating valve bodies for large diameters can’t handle pressure-induced stress (they deform or crack at ANSI Class 600+).
- Trunnions support heavy balls, so even 12-inch 2205 duplex steel balls rotate smoothly at ANSI Class 2500.
- Forged trunnion bodies (common in industrial models) use the same dual-phase microstructure as 2205 steel—delivering 620 MPa tensile strength to resist deformation .
- Seats need replacement every 6–12 months (vs. 2–3 years for trunnion valves).
- Torque-related failures (e.g., stem breaks, 抱死) require emergency shutdowns—costing $10,000+ per hour in downtime .
- Trunnion-mounted balls and metal seats resist wear, even in abrasive high-pressure slurries (e.g., mining wastewater).
- Many trunnion models include automatic lubrication ports and valve cavity pressure relief valves—preventing pressure buildup (a common cause of floating valve failure ).
- The fixed trunnion design avoids alignment issues, so the valve maintains performance for 15+ years (vs. 3–5 years for floating valves in high pressure).
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Scenario
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Trunnion Ball Valve
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Floating Ball Valve
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Pressure Range
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ANSI Class 600–4500 (1,440–8,000 psi)
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ANSI Class 150–300 (150–720 psi)
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Pipe Diameter
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4+ inches (scalable to 48+ inches)
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≤2 inches (max 6 inches for low pressure)
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Fluid Type
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Aggressive (oil, acid, gas), abrasive slurries
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Clean liquids (water, coolant)
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Operation
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Automated (24/7), frequent cycling
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Manual, infrequent use
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Industry
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Offshore oil/gas, chemical processing, power generation
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HVAC, low-pressure water treatment, light industrial
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