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Solid ball: the ball is machined from barstock. So between the flow port and the outer surface of the sphere, the ball is solid.

It is common to come across many plumbing engineering facing an underperforming plumbing project. The math is, generally, right but it does not match the reality. The flow calculation that helps the product selections on everything from boilers to pumps to mixing valves are off substantially. Full-port ball valves had been specified throughout the project to help prevent this kind of problem. True full port valves do not constrict normal flow. The ID of the interior of the ball should be identical to the ID of pipe in which the valve is installed. Full port ball valves should be “invisible” to the flow. Unfortunately, in the reality there are different ball designs, and not all full port valves react to the flow at the same way.

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Bonomi ball valves eliminate these problems. The reason is on the inside. We machine all our valve balls from solid stock while some of our biggest competitors use hollow balls to save money on materials.

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Suspension is used to improve the vehicle's ability to maintain ground contact and smooth the ride for the vehicle's body. To do this, it must absorb the vertical accelerations experience while traversing through rugged terrain.

Engineers’ calculations are based on the declared Cv values. So, how can they be substantially off? The issue is not related to the calculations, but to the type of ball valves used in the project. After inspection and testing the engineers, generally, discover that the ball inside the valve is a hollow formed metal sphere with ports cut on opposite sides of the shell to create a flow path. Testing shows that the Cv value of the valve is about 30-40% of the declared value.

Unsprung mass: total mass unsupported by the vehicle's suspension, i.e. the suspension system itself, dampers, wheels, etc.

If there is a choice between solid and hollow ball for the same application, the solid ball is normally considered as the 'best cost/lifetime' solution. Reasons given are less risk for construction, wear, material and fabrication failure over time.

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Needless to say, this less-than-expected flow, with added turbulence, causes a lot of problems that are magnified by the number of ball valves in the system.

Bonomi’s full-port balls have a smooth interior the same diameter as the pipe to which the valve is attached. There is no cavity to capture damaging scale and virtually no pressure loss, improving system performance and longevity. When ball valve performance and system performance matter, Bonomi ball valves offer a solid advantage.

Here’s why.  Any media entering a hollow ball will experience diverging/converging turbulence that creates resistance to flow, lowering Cv values, and adding turbulence to the flow in the pipe.  The media actually fights against itself trying to exit the orifice on the downstream side.

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Hollow ball definition: the ball is constructed with an inside hollow, usually by two metal spherical halves joined together, with or without inside walls or ribs as reinforcement.

So, we saw as hollow ball valve presents higher resistance to flow (hence lower flow coefficient Cv) in comparison to a solid ball valve, both full bore. The hollow-ball concept is only used to save weight and/or money in materials and machining. Not always an initial saving is the right choice. What we think could save us money now; it will cause a large loss in the future.

Hollow ball valves cause other problems, too. The added pressures inside a hollow ball can greatly reduce seat life. Hollow balls also trap scale and particulate matter, which further impede flow and can also damage seats, causing leaks.