Clearly Superior Flow Control with KMC Control Ball Valves
Why Use Ball Valves?
To regulate temperature in commercial and institutional buildings, Building Automation Systems (BAS) often control hydronics—the regulating of the flow of hot water (from a boiler) and/or cold water (from a chiller) inside the pipes of various kinds of HVAC devices. This modulation of the flow of water (or steam) takes place inside a valve in response to a varying signal (voltage, current, or pneumatic pressure) from the BAS.
The types of valves that have been most often used in HVAC systems include globe, butterfly, and ball valves. Ball valves have the advantages of being reasonably priced, durable, capable of easily handling high pressures and flows, and (during testing or power/actuator failure) capable of manual override. However, they have lacked reliable precision for smoothly modulating flow across the entire control range...until now.
Parabolic Cv Optimizing Inserts
KMC control ball valves are designed to eliminate the inaccuracies inherent in other ball valve configurations. Through the use of a parabolic flow-optimizing ball insert, these valves ensure an equal percentage flow curve as well as 30 to 50% more rotational response than ball valves without a parabolically designed insert.
Unlike a disk that sits outside the ball, KMC’s insert is an integral part of the ball, resulting in far less wear and distortion as well as much higher differential pressure capacity. Made of
Noryl, a glass-filled polymer, the flow optimizing insert offers broad thermal capability, corrosion resistance, and low coefficient of friction as well as multiple
Cv (valve flow coefficient) ratings for each valve size.
Based on the unique design, KMC’s characterized ball valves achieve true equal percentage flow characteristics, multiple lower Cv ratings, and higher close-off pressures without requiring the high price of high-torque actuation.
Mixing or Diverting with the Same Versatile Three-Way Valve
Our three-way ball valves are patterned after globe valves using the same vertical “T” configuration. This simplifies and reduces installation costs in retrofit applications when compared to most other three-way ball valves that use the horizontal “T” configuration. Unlike many other three-way valves, versatile KMC ball valves can easily be used in
both mixing and diverting applications (dependent only on how they are connected), which may reduce the cost of required inventory.
Connection and Performance Options
These valves are supplied with female threaded (NPT) connections. (See also the
Flanged Ball Valves section below.) Multiple Cv rating options exist for each size of valve. Electronic ControlSet direct-coupled actuator choices include the MEP-4000/5000 series with proportional or tri-state inputs and a fail-safe option. For pneumatic applications, MCP-3631 rotary pneumatic actuators precisely power the industry’s only pneumatic ball valves.
Durable Construction Meets Multiple Specifications
Like all KMC products, our ball valves are engineered for long-lasting, high-level performance in a wide variety of environments and operating conditions. Due to the unique low-torque floating ball design on all sizes from 1/2 to 3 inches, the standard stem material is brass and the ball material is nickel-plated brass. (Stainless-steel is standard for the VEB-53/56 flanged valves).
Each valve’s dual Teflon ball and stem seals and EPDM O-rings provide leak-proof shut off and meet both “packed” and “packless” construction specifications. The Teflon seals increase chemical resistance. The grease reservoir maintains lubrication on the stem’s EPDM O-ring to extend service life.
Easy Installation and Extended Service
The design eliminates the requirement for periodic maintenance adjustments. Nevertheless, valve life can easily be extended after long service since the stems are easily repaired in the field without having to remove the valve.
VEB-43/46 Series Ball Valves
VEB-43 (two-way) and
VEB-46 (three-way, mixing or diverting) series ball valves have provided the industry with years of trouble-free operation. They now come with the more compact and efficient
MEP-4000 series actuators that include advanced feature options, such as built-in feedback and automapping of a reduced rotation range. For fail-safe applications,
MEP-5372/5373 actuators provide switch-selectable fail direction and efficient capacitor-driven fail-safe operation.
VCB-41/42/46 Series Pneumatic Ball Valves
Need the same precision control in a pneumatic application?
VCB-41/42 (two-way) and
VCB-46 (three-way, mixing or diverting) series ball valves with
MCP-3631 series rotary pneumatic actuators give a new level of flexible control in pneumatic applications. The valve’s fail direction can be easily changed in the field if necessary by flipping over the actuator. KMC is the only manufacturer to offer the advantages of ball valves for pneumatic installations. These are the industry’s only pneumatic control ball valves!
The KMC
VEB-53 series (two-way) and
VEB-56 series (three-way, mixing or diverting) flanged, characterized, control ball valves are designed for control of large flows of hot or chilled water. These valves range in size from 4 to 6 inches with equal-percentage flow characteristics. Leak-proof, blow-out-proof stems and stainless-steel balls and stems make these valves ideal for many high-volume applications. Valve body features include:
- Control large flow volumes for much lower cost than an equivalent globe valve
- Two-way (VEB-53 series) and three-way (VEB-56 series), in 4" (shown here), 5", and 6" sizes
- Laser-cut characterization ports in the stainless-steel ball
- Stainless-steel stem
- Same face-to-face dimensions as Honeywell flanged ball valves
- Large range of possible Cvs (91 to 650), and multiple Cv selections for each size of valve
- Lower torque (less energy) required to operate compared to globe valves
- Standard ANSI Class 125 flange connections
These valves use KMC MEP-7200/7500 series ControlSet actuators with proportional or tri-state inputs.
For additional information on all these various valves and actuators, see their respective data sheets and installation guides.
Addition Links
Getting Physical with Actuators.
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