What is a wafer ball valve?
A wafer ball valve is a compact, sandwich-type ball valve designed to be installed between two mating flanges (ASME or DIN) without its own flange connections. The valve body is wafer-thin and is centered and held in place by flange bolts that pass around it. It provides the same quarter-turn isolation function as a standard flanged ball valve but in a much more compact, lightweight, and cost-effective design.
What are the advantages of wafer ball valves over flanged ball valves?
Wafer ball valves offer significant advantages: (1) Compact size — much shorter face-to-face dimension allowing installation in tight spaces; (2) Lighter weight — reduced structural load on piping and lower shipping costs; (3) Lower cost — less material than flanged equivalents, saving up to 40% on initial procurement; (4) Easier installation — simply sandwiched between existing flanges with no additional flange adapters needed; (5) Reduced inventory — fewer gaskets and bolts to stock.
What size range are wafer ball valves available in?
TANGGONG manufactures wafer ball valves from DN15 (½") to DN300 (12") in nominal diameter, covering Class 150 to Class 300 (PN10 to PN50) pressure ratings. Standard body materials include WCB (carbon steel), CF8 (SS304), and CF8M (SS316). Custom sizes, special materials (Duplex, Inconel, Monel), and non-standard flange drilling patterns are available on request.
Can wafer ball valves be used for gas applications?
Yes. TANGGONG wafer ball valves with RPTFE or metal seats are suitable for natural gas, air, nitrogen, and other non-corrosive gas applications up to Class 300. For gas service, anti-static devices and fire-safe construction per API 607 are recommended. Our high performance wafer ball valve (Class 300, metal-seated) is specifically designed for higher-pressure gas applications and includes anti-static and fire-safe features as standard.
How to install a wafer ball valve?
Wafer ball valve installation procedure: (1) Verify flange facing (RF standard) and bolt circle diameter match the valve dimensions; (2) Insert the wafer ball valve between two pipe flanges; (3) Center the valve using aligning rods or by visual inspection of the ball bore through the flange opening; (4) Insert flange bolts through both flanges, passing around the wafer valve body — do NOT pass through the valve body; (5) Tighten bolts evenly in a cross-pattern torquing sequence to the flange bolt torque specification; (6) Cycle the valve open/close to verify smooth operation and no interference after bolt-up. Always consult TANGGONG's installation manual for your specific model.
