Views: 0 Author: J-VALVES Publish Time: 2026-02-15 Origin: Site
In industrial piping systems, with the continuous increase of pipe diameters and pressure ratings, the selection of ball valve structural forms becomes particularly critical. While floating ball valves are widely used in small-diameter working conditions, trunnion ball valves are often a more reliable and mature solution for large-diameter, high-pressure systems.
This article will systematically compare Trunnion Ball Valves and Floating Ball Valves, and focus on analyzing the technical advantages of J-VALVES Trunnion Ball Valves in large-diameter applications.
The fundamental difference between the two types of ball valves lies in the supporting method of the ball core.
Floating ball valves rely on valve seats to support the ball core, and the medium pressure pushes the ball core to move downstream to achieve sealing. This structure is simple with controllable costs, suitable for small and medium-diameter systems.
In contrast, trunnion ball valves firmly position the ball core through upper and lower trunnions, so the ball core will not displace due to medium pressure during operation. Sealing is accomplished by movable valve seats, and the pressure is mainly borne by the trunnions and bearings.
This difference will be amplified exponentially as the valve diameter increases.
In large-diameter working conditions, floating ball valves often face the following problems:
Large pressure-bearing area of the ball core leads to a sharp rise in operating torque
Frequent displacement of the ball core causes increased wear of valve seats
Difficult selection of automated actuators with a significant increase in costs
Decreased sealing stability under high pressure or fluctuating working conditions
Therefore, in pipelines with DN200 or above or high pressure ratings, the comprehensive economy and reliability of floating ball valves gradually decrease.
The design of J-VALVES Trunnion Ball Valves fully considers the actual needs of large-diameter and high-pressure systems from the very beginning.
Through the upper and lower trunnion structure, the ball core maintains precise positioning at all times, unaffected by medium pressure, ensuring the structural stability of the valve during long-term operation.
The trunnion ball structure greatly reduces the opening and closing resistance, enabling smooth operation even under large-diameter and high-pressure conditions, making it ideal for both manual and automated control.
Adopting a spring-preloaded valve seat design combined with medium pressure-assisted sealing to achieve reliable bidirectional sealing, adapting to changes in complex working conditions.
No more displacement of the ball core leads to a noticeable reduction in valve seat wear, decreasing maintenance frequency and lowering the total life cycle cost.
In large-diameter engineering projects, J-VALVES Trunnion Ball Valves also have the following advantages:
Supports DBB (Double Block and Bleed) structure
Optional emergency sealant injection system to improve safety level
Suitable for high-flow, long-distance transmission pipelines
Widely used in oil and gas, chemical industry, electric power and transmission pipe networks
Comparison Item | Floating Ball Valve | J-VALVES Trunnion Ball Valve |
Applicable Diameter | Small to medium diameter | Medium to large diameter |
Operating Torque | Rises sharply with diameter | Stable and controllable |
Ball Core Support | Valve seat support | Upper and lower trunnions |
Valve Seat Wear | Prone to wear in large diameters | Noticeably reduced |
Automation Compatibility | Restricted | Highly suitable |
Long-term Cost | Relatively high | More economical |
With mature trunnion ball valve design, strict material control and precision processing capabilities, J-VALVES provides stable, safe and sustainable valve solutions for large-diameter piping systems.
In engineering projects with extremely high requirements for safety, operating torque and sealing reliability, J-VALVES Trunnion Ball Valves are undoubtedly the better choice.
