Understanding 3 Way T Port Ball Valve

What is a 3-way T-port ball valve?

A 3-way T-port ball valve consists of a ball spool and a T-shaped cutout in the valve's body, with its three ports being the inlet, outlet, and a third diverter port. The key component is the spool structure with the T-channels. This design allows the valve to be connected to three perpendicular pipelines, and the flow direction of the fluid can be flexibly controlled by rotating the ball core. It can achieve diversion, merging, switching and other functions, greatly simplifying the piping system. And a T-ball valve can replace more than one traditional two-way valve, significantly saving space and cost.

SOURCE:Valveman

T-ball valves have a T-shaped spool that connects three mutually perpendicular pipelines. There is a T-shaped channel inside the sphere, and the flow direction can be changed by rotating the sphere. It is possible to connect all three ports, or close any port to connect the other two. It is suitable for occasions that require frequent switching of flow direction or mixing of different fluids. It can be operated manually or equipped with electric or pneumatic actuators for automatic control.

However, it is worth noting that the complexity of the 3-way T-ball valves also means that more specialized knowledge and skills are required when selecting and installing them. Correct selection of the right type and installation will help to fulfill its full function. In addition, in some cases where high precision control is required, it may be necessary to consider other types of control valves with more accurate precision control.

L-type 3-way ball valves have an L-shaped spool, which can only connect two mutually perpendicular pipelines to achieve a 90-degree turning or switching function. It is mainly used for switching the direction of media flow, only two channels can be connected, can not be connected at the same time three channels. In contrast, the T-type three-way ball valve sphere is T-shaped, can be connected to three mutually perpendicular pipelines, to achieve more flexible fluid control.

The T-shaped structure can make the three channels connected to each other, can also close any channel to make the other two connected, to achieve the function of diversion, merging or straight through. Therefore, T-type three-way ball valves have a wider range of applications, can replace the L-type, but the L-type can not completely replace the T-type, so the choice should be based on specific needs to determine which type to use.