SEAT

Ball Valve Part: Seat

The seat is a fundamental sealing component within a ball valve that ensures tight closure by pressing against the ball, preventing any fluid leakage. It plays a vital role in maintaining the valve’s sealing integrity and overall performance.

Primary Function

• Sealing Interface
  Provides a reliable seal between the ball and valve body, ensuring leak-tight shutoff when the valve is closed.

• Wear Protection
  Cushions the ball, minimizing wear and extending the valve’s service life.

• Pressure Compensation
  Some seat designs adapt to pressure changes to maintain consistent sealing.

Material and Design

• Common Materials
  Includes PTFE, reinforced PTFE, PEEK, and metals. Soft seats offer excellent sealing for lower temperatures and pressures, while metal seats withstand harsh conditions like high temperature and high pressure.

• Seat Types

  • Floating Seats: Slightly movable to press against the ball for effective sealing.

  • Trunnion Seats: Fixed ball with movable seats for heavy-duty applications.

• Spring-Loaded Seats
  Often equipped with springs to keep constant contact with the ball and adapt to wear.

Applications

The seat material and design are selected based on the fluid type, operating temperature, and pressure, making it essential for applications in oil & gas, chemical processing, water treatment, and power plants.