Side entry ball valve is a ball valve whose body is assembled from two or more pieces, with the ball inserted from the side of the valve body. The pieces are usually bolted together, hence it’s also referred to as a split-body valve.

Description

1. Structure Of Side Entry Ball Valve

Body: Typically two-piece or three-piece bolted body design.
Ball: Spherical closing element with a bore (floating or trunnion-mounted depending on size and pressure).
Seats: Soft (PTFE, Nylon, Devlon, etc.) or metal, providing tight shut-off.
Stem: Connects the ball to the actuator/handle.
Sealing: O-rings and gaskets prevent external leakage at body joints.
Assembly: The ball and seats are inserted laterally (from the side), not from the top.

2. Performance & Features Of Side Entry Ball Valve

Tight Shut-off: Reliable sealing, bubble-tight with soft seats.
Ease of Assembly: Bolted construction allows replacement of internal components by disassembling the valve body.
Pressure & Size Range: Suitable for medium to high-pressure applications, typically up to ANSI 2500 class.
Cost-effective: Less expensive compared to top-entry or fully welded ball valves.
Maintenance: Requires valve removal from pipeline for major repairs, unlike top-entry types.
Leakage Points: Flanged/bolted body joints introduce more potential external leakage points compared to fully welded valves.

3. Applications Of Side Entry Ball Valve

Side entry ball valves are widely used in:
Oil & Gas pipelines (transportation and distribution systems).
Petrochemical plants (process isolation).
Power plants (steam, water, fuel isolation).
General industry (chemical, water treatment, manufacturing lines).
Cryogenic service (when designed with proper seats and extended bonnets).

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