Globe vs. V Port Ball Valves for Flow Control Applications

In most process applications there are two different types of valves used: on/off and control. On/off valves allow full flow or stopping flow completely. Control valves, in contrast have the ability to control the AMOUNT of flow, also known as throttling.

V-Port Ball Valves

V-Port ball valves are a specialized ball valve that offer:

• Suitability for coarse control applications
• Reliable shutoff
• Many different V-Port balls options available to accommodate different flow ranges with the same valve body, most common being 60˚, 30˚, and 15˚

V-Port Product Information
Price V-Port Valve

Globe Valves 

Globe valves use linear actuation and offer:

• More precise control due to a more linear flow curve (See Figure 3 below)
• Do not suffer uneven wear in the mid positions
• Typically have higher pressure drops than V-Port valves

However, they do not typically provide a bubble tight shutoff. They also require greater force or a larger actuator to seat the valve.
Globe Valve Product Information
Price Globe Valve

V Port Ball Valve and Globe Valve Comparison

	V Port Valve	Globe Valve
Function	2-way flow control	2-way flow control, 3-way mixing, 3-way diverting
Positive Shutoff	YES	Not leak free
Control Capability	Coarse	Fine
High Duty Cycle	NO	YES (constant)
Flow Capacity	Higher	Lower
Cavitation Prevention	—
High Temperature	—	Preferred
Ease of Maintenance	—	Preferred
Cost	More economical	—

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