Tag:valve=ball

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Public-images-osm logo.svg valve = ball
Ball.PNG
Description
Kind of quarter-turn valve design involving a rotating perforated ball to regulate or ensure complete isolation of high pressurised fluids in a pipeline. Edit this description in the wiki page. Edit this description in the data item.
Group: pipelines
Used on these elements
may be used on nodesshould not be used on waysshould not be used on areasshould not be used on relations (except multipolygon relations)
Useful combination
Status: approvedPage for proposal

A Ball valve is designed for high pressure use cases. It involves a perforated quarter-turn ball to regulate or ensure complete isolation of fluids in a pipe.

We can find them in hydrocarbons transmission pipelines or hydroelectric power plants at the bottom of penstocks (while upstream valve is a valve=butterfly one).

You can complete their description in OSM with actuator=*, turn_to_close=* or handle=*. See examples below.

Examples

Photo Location Tagging Comments
Ball penstock valve
Switzerland

pipeline=valve
valve=ball
actuator=hydraulic_cylinder
handle=no
sensor:position=mechanical
remotely_controllable=yes

Hydroelectric power plants usually got valves at bottom of their penstocks carrying water down to turbines due to the heavy water pressure. Such a valve is mainly fully opened or fully closed depending of the plant operational status. It is located next to a pelton turbine at the end of the penstock. Here is how a ball valve closes :

Ball valve closing steps.jpg

Gas safety valve
France

pipeline=valve
valve=ball
actuator=hydraulic_cylinder
handle=no
operator=GRTGaz
manufacturer=Camron
location=underground
remotely_controllable=yes

The valve is actually underground and ensure safety of the rising pipeline on the background. Only its head is visible from the ground surface.