Turning the valve handle 180 degrees (a half turn) diverts flow either to the left or to the right (see the previous images). Vertical type L-pattern flow three-way ball valves have two possible flow paths and two possible off positions.ДЇor a vertical type L-pattern flow ball valve, the bottom port or common port is always open. Having a clear understanding of L-pattern flow makes understanding T-pattern flow much easier. I will describe the basics of three-way ball valves with both L-pattern and T-pattern flows, but I will describe L-pattern flow ball valves first. Most three-way ball valves have valve balls with flow patterns shaped like either a capital L (L-pattern flow, L-flow, L-port, two direction) or a capital T (T-pattern flow, T-flow, T-port, three direction). This important design difference is the pattern of flow or port shape through the ball inside the valve. There is one simple but key internal design difference that determines what a three-way ball valve can do.

Alternately block flow in one direction while allowing flow to continue in another.

Split flow from one source between two different destinations.Divert flow from one destination to another.Using the right valve type and setup, flow can be controlled in ways that meet one or more different process requirements such as Three-way ball valves are popular because they are an economical and simple way of providing both shut off and flow direction control in a single valve body.Д«all Valve вЂ“ Learn about Floating and Trunnion Mounted Ball Valves at HardHat EngineerДЄlthough this technical blog is aimed at large-bore and high-pressure flow control, it contains some useful and very well illustrated information about three-way ball valve design.Д¬ontrolling flow through a three-way valve is done with a combination of how the piping is set up, the handle rotation of the valve ball and the flow path through the valve ball (the ball bore or porting). These ports are usually described as one inlet and two outlet ports or one outlet and two inlet ports depending upon the flow direction through the valve. A three-way ball valve has three ports or openings that are connected to piping or tubing for gas or fluid flow (media) to pass through.

The three-way ball valve is the most common multi-port ball valve. Three-, four- and five-way ball valves are called multi-port valves.

Watergems tank one way flow