Honeywell launches new range of ball valves
Honeywell is pleased to announce a new range of 2-way and 3-way ball valves suitable for a wide range of heating, ventilating and air conditioning applications.
Energy-efficient building services and equipment require valves that provide high flow rates, accurate control characteristics and tight shut off against high differential pressures.
The last five years have seen a significant increase in usage of ball valves in the UK — with corresponding improvements in control performance, flexibility of installation and serviceability.
The Honeywell range of ball valves and actuators has been designed to maximise the key features required to give specifiers, installers and users the most cost-effective solution without compromising quality or performance.
Fan-coil units, unit heaters, perimeter emitters, water-sourced heat pumps, VAV (variable air volume) and AHUs (air-handling units) are examples of the wide range of applications suitable for the new Honeywell ball valves and actuators.
Reduced energy loss in modern building construction and more exacting regulations have effectively reduced the average size of HVAC plant and equipment, with a corresponding reduction in pipe sizes and valves.
A reduction in the pipe size of installed HVAC control valves requires a more exacting control performance from both the valve body and actuator, whilst retaining a tight shutoff over a long installed life cycle.
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| Honeywell’s VBG range of ball valves is available in 2-way and 3-way versions. These valves have a parabolic flow insert inside the rotating ball. |
Valve Bodies
Honeywell 2-way valves (series VBG2) and 3-way (series VBG3) address these demanding requirements with a unique parabolic flow insert positioned inside the rotating ball.
The-laser cut profiled insert achieves an equal percentage flow characteristic, ensuring linear control and energy transfer. The result is optimal control and lower energy consumption.
Located inside the ball the insert is not subject to friction wear ensuring constant flow characteristics and tight shut off throughout a long service life.
Both 2-way and 3-way valves are available in pipe sizes DN15 (R 1/2) to DN50 (R 2) with Kvs values of 0.25 to 25 (2-way) and 0.63 to 25 (3-way) with the valve fully open. The definition of the coefficient Kvs is the flow rate in cubic metres per hour [m3/h] of water at a temperature of 16º C with a pressure drop across the valve of 1 bar.
There are 21 Kvs values in the 2-way range and 19 Kvs values in the 3-way range, with a pressure rating of PN 25 (25 bar) and leakage rating A (bubble tight, i.e. no visually detectable leakage for the duration of the test).
The rangeability is 50:1 or 100:1 depending on the model type, pipe size and Kvs value. Rangeability of a control valve can be defined as the ratio of its maximum controllable flow to its minimum controllable flow.
Honeywell ball valves have external threads with a standard flat-face pipe connection. Union nuts, tailpieces and gaskets are available for all valve pipe sizes.
Actuators
The control characteristics of an automatic valve depend on the accuracy and responsiveness of the actuator that drives it open and closed, mixes the flow from two ports or diverts the flow from one port to another.
Honeywell supplies two ranges of actuators for its range of ball valves. They are the new MVN series for sizes DN15 to DN32 and the M606/M706 series for DN40 and DN50.
The new MVN series of actuators are available as 230 and 24 V ac floating control or 24 V ac/0-10 V dc modulating control. Running time is 108 seconds floating and 90 seconds modulating.
All models are suitable for open/close, diverting and mixing functions, with manual override and valve position indicator as standard.
M606 and M706 actuators are used for valve pipe sizes DN40 and DN50.
These larger ball valves use standard Honeywell actuators for 230 V and 24 V ac floating or 24 V ac/0-10 V dc modulating control, with a running time of 90 seconds.
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Design, Installation and Serviceability
It is important when introducing a new range of valves and actuators to consider all the industry’s application requirements — from design and engineering to installation and maintenance.
Honeywell’s new range of ball valves, with its extensive selection of Kvs values and actuator control signal,s provides engineers with the flexibility required to address a wide range of applications.
Combined with the best available leak-rate performance and high close of pressure this new range provides the accurate control and minimum energy usage necessary to meet the majority of HVAC requirements.
Flexible valve and actuator orientation gives contractors a wide choice of installation possibilities that reduces installation time and cost without compromising on performance.
Electrical installation and commissioning have been carefully considered with manual override snap-on actuators, valve position indication and plug in wiring connection. An optional 1.5 m cable is available.
Maintenance access is facilitated by a tool-free actuator linkage, in-place field service of the valve stem and flat-face pipe connections.
Each valve is supplied with a Smart Tag, enabling installation and maintenance engineers to fully reference the valve to a Honeywell catalogue and technical documentation.
VBG valves are supported by a 5 year warranty.
Jim Sword, head of sales of CentraLine and Ex-Or, says, ‘This new range of ball valves is a very welcome addition to our product portfolio.
‘The technical features of the new VBG valve body and MVN actuator will not only give us significant advantages over our competitors but more importantly will offer real cost effective benefits to our CentraLine Partners and their clients.
‘We are particularly pleased to offer a range of products that recognises the industry’s differing requirements in delivering projects from design through installation to service.’
If you would like to know more about Honeywell products please contact Centraline
