Float Ball Valve for Poultry Farm and Agricultural Water Tanks

Float ball valve provides automatic water level control without electricity. Used in Thai poultry farm, 5+ years maintenance-free. DN65, brass body, long service life. Get quote.

Description

Maintaining stable water levels in towers, reservoirs, and storage tanks—without relying on external electricity—has long been a practical challenge for agricultural, livestock, and remote-area water supply systems. The float valve (valve pelampung air) offers a classic mechanical answer to this need. It harnesses buoyancy force from a float that rises and falls with the water surface, driving a linkage mechanism that directly opens or closes the valve plug. When the water level drops, the float descends, opening the valve to allow refilling; once the water reaches a preset height, the float lifts and shuts off the flow. Entirely mechanical, this operation requires no electric power, controllers, or sensors.

Construction & Materials

The float valve consists of four main components: the valve body, float, linkage arm, and sealing assembly. The body and internal plug form the shut-off unit, while the float connects to the plug via the linkage. Our product series offers the following material and design options:

  • Valve Body: Brass (CW617N – suitable for drinking water and general clean water), Stainless Steel (CF8M/304 – for corrosive media and high-temperature environments), or Ductile Iron (for large industrial tanks).

  • Float: 304 stainless steel (hermetically welded hollow construction – corrosion‑resistant and non‑leaking) or food‑grade PE plastic (lightweight and cost‑effective).

  • Seals: EPDM or NBR rubber diaphragms/gaskets – age‑resistant with reliable sealing.

  • Connections: Threaded (BSP/NPT, DN15–DN80) or Flanged (DN50–DN200).

  • Pressure Rating: PN10 – PN16 (standard); custom options available for higher pressures.

  • Temperature Range: 0 °C – 80 °C (with standard rubber seals); PTFE seals can be supplied for high‑temperature service up to 150 °C.

  • Level Control Accuracy: ±15 mm (depending on arm length and installation height).

Key Technical Specifications

Parameter Specification
Nominal Diameter (DN) DN15 – DN200 (1/2″ – 8″)
Pressure Class PN10 – PN16 / Class 150
Body Material Brass (CW617N) / Stainless Steel 304/316 / Ductile Iron
Float Material 304 Stainless (welded, sealed) / PE Plastic
Sealing Material EPDM / NBR / PTFE (for high‑temp)
End Connection Female Thread (BSP/NPT) / Flange (RF)
Operating Temperature 0 °C – 80 °C (standard) / 150 °C (PTFE)
Level Accuracy ±15 mm
Suitable Media Clean water, drinking water, industrial water, light liquids
Mounting Orientation Horizontal inlet / Vertical inlet (bottom‑entry type)
Design Standards BS 1212 / ASME / ISO

 

Typical Applications

  • Automatic drinking water systems in poultry and pig farms

  • Agricultural irrigation storage tanks and tower refilling

  • Drinking water reservoirs in rural or off‑grid areas

  • Rooftop tanks and basement water storage in buildings

  • Cooling tower make‑up and circulating tank level maintenance

  • Fire‑protection reservoir water level retention

Field Example: Ban Bang Rachan Poultry Farm, Sing Buri, Thailand

A farm housing approximately 80,000 broilers relies on an automatic drinking line supplied from a 150 m³ ground‑level storage pond, which is recharged by river water via pump. Previously, operators manually controlled the pump, often leading to overflow or insufficient supply—compromising the drinking line’s performance. In 2020, the farm installed a DN65 brass float valve (with a 304 stainless float) on the inlet pipe. Since then, the valve has operated continuously without any electrical supply or human intervention, responding solely to water level changes. After more than five years of service, it has experienced no mechanical jamming, no leakage, and its seals remain intact. The farm owner commented, “It needs no power, no attention—just works.” This case clearly demonstrates the float valve’s dependable, long‑term performance under zero‑electricity conditions—offering significant value for off‑grid or unattended agricultural water systems.

Selection Guidelines

When choosing a float valve, pay special attention to the following three points:

  1. Inlet pressure compatibility: Standard models suit PN10–PN16 systems. If the inlet pressure exceeds 1.6 MPa, opt for a pilot‑operated pressure‑reducing float valve to avoid seal failure or arm deformation from high‑pressure surges.

  2. Float material selection: For drinking water or food‑contact applications, always choose the 304 stainless steel (welded‑sealed) float to prevent loss of buoyancy due to ageing or cracking of plastic floats. For non‑potable uses, the economical PE float is acceptable.

  3. Mounting orientation: The standard configuration is horizontal inlet with the float arm hanging vertically downward. If your tank has a top inlet and requires vertical downward filling, you must select a bottom‑entry float valve; otherwise, the valve will not operate correctly.