tech level ball valves High pressure
CONSTRUCTION
The valve
body and sleeve are manufactured from hot‑forged brass UNI EN 12420 – CW617N,
while the connection materials vary according to the specific series:
- BV..K series: connections made from copper alloy tubing EN 12735‑1 – CuFe2P (K65)
- BV..HP series: connections made from stainless‑steel tubing AISI 304
The
spindle, engineered to eliminate any risk of expulsion, is produced from
treated steel, and the corresponding pin is made of stainless steel. Body and
sleeve are assembled through a threaded joint and subsequently welded. EPDM
sealing rings positioned on the operating spindle ensure complete hermetic
isolation from the external environment.
The ball‑seat
gaskets, manufactured from special modified PTFE, provide low operating torque
and guarantee zero seat leakage even under pressure differentials significantly
higher than the design PS. When the ball is in the closed position, an internal
self‑balancing of pressures is achieved, preventing unwanted stress on internal
components that could compromise product performance.
The cap is
made of brass and equipped with a PTFE gasket capable of ensuring full
isolation of the operating assembly with relatively low tightening torque.
INSTALLATION
The ball
valve design allows bi‑directional flow of the refrigerant, and
installation can be performed in any orientation required by the system. The
entire series—except models equipped with an access port (BV..AK, BV..KA,
BV..AHP)—is designed for motorization using Belimo® actuators, through a
dedicated connection flange.
APPLICATION
Ball valves of the BV..K and BV..HP series are classified as “Pressure accessories” under PED Directive 2014/68/EU, Article 2, paragraph 5. The larger sizes fall under Article 4, paragraph 1(c) of the same Directive.
The entire product range is suitable for use with refrigerant R744 (CO₂), classified in Article 13, paragraph 1(b) of the PED Directive as a Group 2 fluid — non‑toxic, non‑flammable, and non‑explosive — and listed as A1 class in Annex E of EN 378‑1.
According to Directive 2014/68/EU, the hazard classification of the product depends on:
- the type of fluid used (R744),
- intrinsic dimensions (DN),
- maximum design working pressure (PS).
For BV..K and BV..HP ball valves, internal nominal diameters (DN) range from 12 mm for the smallest models up to 47 mm for the largest versions. Maximum operating pressures, as specified in the technical tables, do not exceed 140 bar for all products.
In accordance with Table 7 of Annex II of PED Directive 2014/68/EU:
- smaller sizes fall within the scope of Article 4.3,
- larger sizes are classified as Category I and must bear the CE marking, confirming compliance with the Directive.
