Morgan Advanced Materials now has the capability to manufacture balls up to DN250 in diameter for severe service valves from its Nilcra® Zirconia-based material. Previously, valve balls have only been available in sizes of up to DN150 but the trend in process industries to reduce cost by designing systems with larger pipe diameters, which require fewer devices overall, has led Morgan to create a capability to manufacture balls in this larger size. The balls are ideal for use with flow control valves operating in industries such as mineral processing, oil & gas, and pulp & paper.
Morgan’s Steve Thompson explained: “In recent years there has been increasing demand across multiple sectors to reduce cost by minimising the number of pipes and pipeline devices, while increasing pipe diameters. The diameters of the valves that control flow in these systems has also had to increase. Flow levels are determined by the square of the pipe diameter, meaning a DN250 system can handle approximately three times the capacity of its DN150 counterpart, typically reducing overall component count by around 65%. We have pushed the boundaries of ceramic processing and can now deliver valve balls in this size, opening up a realm of new possibilities for system designers.”
