Rising Stem Ball Valve

Rising Stem Ball Valve otherwise known as orbit ball valve, it is a special type of ball valve designed to provide zero-friction sealing and extended service life, particularly in high-cycle, high-temperature, or severe service conditions. Unlike conventional ball valves where the ball rotates against the seat (causing wear), the rising stem design eliminates sliding contact between the ball and seat during operation.

1.Structure of Rising Stem Ball Valve

The valve mainly consists of:
Body – One-piece,/cast body for strength and tightness.
Ball – Specially designed with a helical stem groove that lifts and rotates simultaneously.
Stem – Rising and rotating stem that moves the ball without scraping against the seat.
Seats – Usually metal or composite materials, designed for friction-free engagement.
Packing & Gland – Provide reliable stem sealing.
Actuator or Handwheel – Operates the stem with a rising/rotating movement.
2.Working principle of Rising Stem Ball Valve:
When the valve opens, the stem rises and rotates, lifting the ball away from the seat without friction.
When closing, the ball is rotated and then pushed into the seat, achieving a tight mechanical seal.
3.Features of Orbit Ball Valve
Zero-friction operation – No scraping between ball and seat, reducing wear and extending valve life.
High sealing performance – Mechanical wedging action ensures bubble-tight shutoff, suitable for critical applications.
Long service life – Ideal for frequent operation and severe conditions.
Fire-safe design – Commonly built to API 6D / API 607 fire safety standards.
Low operating torque – No seat friction during opening/closing, requiring smaller actuators.
Suitable for high-temperature and abrasive media – Often used with metal-to-metal seats.
Anti-blowout stem design – Improves safety in high-pressure service.
4.Typical Applications of Orbit Ball Valve:
Oil & gas pipelines
Petrochemical plants
Power generation (steam service)
High-cycle service where standard ball valves wear quickly
Applications requiring tight shutoff in high temperature/pressure