The maintenance of the valve ball is crucial for ensuring its long-term stable operation and extending its service life. It should be carried out systematically from aspects such as daily inspection, cleaning and lubrication, maintenance of sealing components, prevention of faults, and storage management. Here is the specific operation guide: 

I. Daily Inspection: Timely identify potential problems 

1. Visual inspection 

- Surface of the sphere: Check for any scratches, corrosion, cracks or deformations, with particular attention to the sealing surface (the area in contact with the valve seat). 

- Valve seat and sealing components: Check for any wear, aging or residue of the medium, such as whether the O-ring or packing is hardened or cracked. 

- Connection parts: Confirm whether there is leakage at the flange, thread or welding points, and whether the bolts are loose. 

- Drive unit: Check whether the indicator lights and pressure gauges of the electric/ pneumatic actuators are functioning properly, and whether the manual operation mechanism is flexible. 

2. Operation Status Monitoring 

- Operating Resistance: When manually operating the valve, if you feel a sudden increase in resistance or a stuck sensation, there may be foreign objects trapped or damage to the sealing surface. 

- Leak detection: Confirm tightness by hearing (medium leakage sound), observing (medium trace around valve body) or using leak detector. 

- Abnormal temperature: Check if the temperature of the valve body is consistent with the temperature of the medium. Abnormal high temperature may be caused by increased friction or blockage of the medium. 

II. Cleaning and Lubrication: Reducing Wear and Corrosion 

1. Cleaning steps 

- Shutdown and pressure relief: Close the valve and drain the medium in the pipeline to ensure safe operation. 

- Disassembly and Cleaning: 

Loosen the connecting bolts, then remove the ball, valve seat and sealing components. 

Use a soft-bristled brush or non-metallic tools to remove dirt, rust or residual media from the surface of the sphere and within the valve seat. 

For viscous media (such as oils and polymers), they can be soaked in a dedicated cleaning agent and then rinsed. 

- Drying treatment: Dry the parts with a clean cloth or compressed air to prevent moisture residue from causing corrosion. 

2. Lubrication Requirements 

- Valve stem lubrication: Apply high-temperature-resistant and chemically-corrosion-resistant lubricating grease (such as molybdenum disulfide grease) to the valve stem threads and bearing areas. 

Sealing component lubrication: Apply silicone-based lubricating grease to rubber parts such as O-rings and gaskets to reduce friction and prevent aging. 

- Surface of the sphere: If it is a metal-sealed ball valve, a thin layer of special lubricant (such as graphite powder) can be applied to the sealing surface, but care must be taken to avoid contaminating the medium. 

III. Sealing Component Maintenance: Ensuring Sealing Performance 

1. Replacement cycle of seals 

-O-ring/packing: It is recommended to replace it every 1-2 years, or in advance according to leakage. 

- Metal sealing surface: If scratches or wear depth exceeds 0.1mm, the valve seat needs to be returned to the factory for repair or replacement. 

2. Key Points for Replacement Operation 

- Clean the contact surfaces: Before replacement, thoroughly clean the valve body, ball, and sealing element installation slots to ensure there are no impurities. 

- Correct installation direction: The O-ring should be installed according to the marked direction to avoid distortion; the packing material should be compressed layer by layer to prevent leakage. 

- Preload control: The tightening torque of the bolts must comply with the manufacturer's standards to prevent deformation of the sealing parts due to over-tightening or leakage caused by over-loosening. 

IV. Fault Prevention and Handling: Preemptively Mitigating Risks 

1. Common Faults and Solutions 

① Valve jammed: 

Reasons: Foreign object getting stuck, valve stem skewed, sealing surface adhered. 

Procedure: Disassemble and clean, adjust the valve stem, apply lubricant; if the sealing surface is damaged, it needs to be repaired at the factory. 

② Leakage: 

Reason: Sealing components are aging, the ball is eccentric, and the valve seat is damaged. 

Action: Replace the sealing parts, adjust the position of the ball, repair or replace the valve seat. 

③ Increase in operating torque: 

Reasons: Wear of sealing surfaces, crystallization of the medium, insufficient lubrication. 

Task: Clean the sealing surface, replace the lubricant, and check if the medium is suitable for the current valve. 

2. Preventive Maintenance Measures 

- Regular trial operation: Valves that have been out of use for a long time should be opened and closed 1-2 times a month to prevent adhesion of the sealing surface. 

- Medium filtration: Install a filter upstream of the valve to prevent particulate impurities from entering the valve chamber. 

- Temperature control: Avoid the medium temperature exceeding the rated range of the valve to prevent the sealing parts from aging or deforming. 

V. Storage Management: Protecting Uninstalled Valves 

1. Short-term storage (≤6 months) 

Clean the surface of the valve, apply anti-rust oil, and store it in a dry and ventilated room. 

The valve stem is in a slightly open state (approximately 10°), to prevent the sealing surface from being deformed due to prolonged pressure. 

2. Long-term storage (more than 6 months) 

Remove the valve, clean and lubricate all the parts, and store them separately in packaging. 

Regularly check the humidity of the storage environment (≤ 60%), to prevent rusting of metal parts or aging of rubber parts. 

VI. Professional Maintenance Recommendations 

1. Complex working condition valves: such as high-temperature, high-pressure, and highly corrosive medium valves, it is recommended that they be disassembled and inspected by professionals every six months. 

2. Key Valves: For valves used in fields such as nuclear power and chemical engineering, maintenance records should be established to document all inspection and repair data. 

3. Return for maintenance: If the sealing surface of the sphere is severely damaged or the valve body is deformed, contact the manufacturer for precise repair or replacement. 

Summary

The maintenance of valve balls should follow the principle of "prevention first, regular inspection, and timely handling". Through daily cleaning, lubrication, replacement of sealing components, and fault prevention, the failure rate can be significantly reduced and the service life can be prolonged. For complex or critical valves, it is recommended to formulate personalized maintenance plans in combination with the manufacturer's guidance to ensure the safe and stable operation of the system.