Carbon Steel Floating Ball Valve | ASTM A216 WCB, Fire-Safe, 150–600 LB
Durable carbon steel floating ball valve in ASTM A216 WCB/A105. Fire-safe, anti-static, full port, Class 150–600. Ideal for oil, gas, steam and industrial fluids.
Description
Carbon Steel Floating Ball Valve – Product Overview
The Carbon Steel Floating Ball Valve is a shut-off ball valve designed for medium- and low-pressure piping systems, with valve body made of carbon cast steel or forged steel and a floating ball structure. Its closure member is a ball with a through-hole, which is rotated solely by the stem without a lower shaft support. During closure, the medium pressure pushes the ball against the downstream seat, forcing the seat sealing surface to contact the ball tightly and thus achieving reliable sealing. This structure features few parts, a smooth flow path, and low operating torque. In the full‑bore version, the bore diameter matches the pipe, resulting in near‑zero fluid resistance. It is a mainstream choice that balances sealing performance and economy for clean medium‑ and low‑pressure pipelines.
Materials
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The valve body is predominantly made of ASTM A216 WCB cast steel (suitable for water, steam, oil, and petroleum products at –29~425℃). For low‑temperature service, it can be upgraded to ASTM A352 LCB/LCC low‑temperature cast steel (suitable for media above –46℃). Forged valve bodies use ASTM A105 forged steel, which has a dense structure, reliable pressure‑containing capability, and is suitable for high‑pressure and small‑bore orders.
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The ball is commonly A105+ENP (hard chrome plated) or CF8/CF8M stainless steel; the stem is mostly A182‑F6a; the seat is mainly PTFE/RPTFE, while PPL or metal‑to‑metal sealing can be used for high‑temperature or fire‑safe applications.
Main Parameters
| Item | Parameter / Description |
|---|---|
| Valve Body Material | ASTM A216 WCB / A352 LCB / ASTM A105 (forged) |
| Ball / Stem | A105+ENP / CF8(M); Stem A182‑F6a |
| Sealing Seat | PTFE / RPTFE / PPL / Metal hard seal |
| Bore Size Range | NPS 1/2″–8″ (DN15–DN200) |
| Pressure Rating | Class 150 / 300 / 600 LB (PN16–PN100) |
| Working Temperature | –29~200℃ (soft seal); –29~425℃ (metal seal) |
| End Connections | Flanged RF/RTJ, NPT/BSP threaded, Socket Welding SW |
| Design / Inspection | API 608 / API 6D; API 598; Optional API 607 fire‑safe |
| Applicable Media | Water, steam, oil, natural gas, and general industrial fluids |
Applications
Widely used in oil & gas gathering and refining process lines, district heating and steam networks, power plant auxiliaries and boiler feedwater, chemical and pharmaceutical process piping, as well as fire pump discharge shut‑off, HVAC chilled water circulation, and ship ballast water systems – i.e., occasions requiring frequent operation and zero‑leakage shut‑off.
For Class 600 and above or DN≥100 high‑pressure large‑bore conditions, a trunnion‑mounted ball structure is recommended to avoid seat deformation or excessive operating torque caused by single‑side pressure on the ball.
The Carbon Steel Floating Ball Valve relies on medium pressure to push the floating ball against the downstream seat for sealing. It features a compact structure, low flow resistance, and light operation, making it a cost‑effective shut‑off solution for medium‑ and low‑pressure clean fluid pipelines.
The valve body is made of carbon steel, and either cast or forged versions are available to suit various industrial media such as water, steam, oil, and natural gas.
About ASTM A105 carbon steel floating ball valve
The version with ASTM A105 forged steel body offers a dense forged structure, free from casting defects, with reliable pressure‑containing performance and no dimensional constraints from molds. It is often used for high‑pressure, oxygen‑service, small‑bore, and low‑volume custom orders.
After ENP (hard chrome) treatment, the ball gains excellent wear and corrosion resistance. Together with PTFE or RPTFE seats, it achieves bidirectional zero‑leakage sealing, making it a preferred choice for power plants, boiler feedwater, and high‑pressure steam branch lines.
About A216 WCB carbon steel floating ball valve
The A216 WCB carbon steel floating ball valve has a body made of ASTM A216 WCB carbon cast steel, featuring high strength, good weldability and machinability, and a service temperature range of –29~425℃, covering conventional media such as water, steam, air, and petroleum products.
About A352 LCB carbon steel floating ball valve
Designed for low‑temperature conditions, the A352 LCB carbon steel floating ball valve adopts an ASTM A352 LCB low‑temperature impact‑tested cast steel body, suitable for temperatures as low as –46℃. It is specifically engineered for liquefied gases, low‑temperature propylene, ethylene, and cold‑region outdoor pipelines handling low‑temperature media.
Selection and Customization of Carbon Steel Floating Ball Valves
As a mature pipeline shut‑off product, carbon steel floating ball valves can be customized in terms of bore size, pressure rating, end connections, seat material, and actuation (manual lever / worm gear / pneumatic / electric actuator).
Customized carbon steel floating ball valve services
We provide customized carbon steel floating ball valve services, supporting non‑standard bore sizes, special pressure ratings (up to Class 600 LB / PN100), RTJ ring‑type joint flanges, extended stems (extended bonnets), bleed‑hole balls (SVB), DBB/DIB seat functions, and integration with various actuators.
