API 6D Unibody Floating Ball Valves

[calmglebe]

Can FULL PORT API 6D unibody floating ball valves be designed and produced?
I have a customer asking for 3"600# ful port and 2"300# full port CF8M body 6D floating ball valves.
However, I only saw RP ones in the past.
Appreciate your kind advices.

 

[mbelly84]

Yes of course they can be, why shouldnt they?
API 6D covers both concepts of floating ball valve and piggability.
Same with API 608.

 

[PeterIgg]

When you say "unibody" I assume that you mean "one piece with an end entry", not a top entry. I think that the issue will one of geometry: viz the valve trim's size vs the bore that it has to pass through will be problematic. Torque on a 3" 600# floater will be relatively high, so the stem will need to be quite chunky. If it comes in through a separate bonnet I think that the benefits of a 'unibody' are beginning to disappear. Hindle had a novel approach to the problem, but I think that they no longer manufacture that valve.

 

[calmglebe]

Thanks, Peter. I did mean one-piece end-entry.