How to Select a Hydraulic Ball Valve? Working Pressure, Sealing Material and Connection Type Explained

In a hydraulic system, a ball valve is not the main pressure-regulating element, but it is the critical isolation component that cuts off exactly when needed — main hydraulic station circuits, accumulators, pump outlets and high-pressure test benches almost all rely on it. A quarter-turn of 90 degrees opens or closes it, with minimal pressure loss across the full bore. Yet many on-site failures come precisely from just grabbing any valve and installing it: using a general-purpose process ball valve for hydraulic high pressure, mismatched thread form and fittings, or a sealing material that cannot withstand the medium. Below we explain hydraulic ball valve selection clearly.

1. Know This First: Hydraulic and Process Ball Valves Are Not the Same

2. Three Hard Criteria for Selection: Pressure, Connection, Sealing

3. How to Choose Floating Ball, Bore and Ports

4. Typical Selection List for Hydraulic Scenarios

5. A Few Common Pitfalls

6. How to Build a Segment with a Hose Assembly

The G-threaded end of the ball valve, crimped and connected to a hydraulic hose assembly via a BSPP transition fitting, forms a flexible pipe segment that is isolatable at any time, detachable and replaceable — exactly the most common combination in hydraulic stations, construction machinery and test benches. During selection, align the valve pressure class, connection type and hose assembly to the system maximum pressure as one, and the whole segment will have no weak point.

About Shanghai Beirun Hydraulic Equipment Co., Ltd. (KUNGFLEX)

Shanghai Beirun Hydraulic Equipment Co., Ltd. (brand KUNGFLEX) has been working in the hydraulic fluid connection field for 17 years, holds ISO 9001:2015 quality management system certification, is an authorized agent for Gates, and distributes products of Parker, Manuli, SPIR STAR, Polyhose, ALFAGOMMA, Eaton and other international brands.

• Core testing capability: 4000 kg / approx. 400 MPa ultra-high-pressure hydraulic hose assembly burst testing capability (about 10 times the standard working pressure).
• Main products: hydraulic hose assemblies, industrial fittings, quick couplings, ball valves, steel tube assemblies; liquid cooling connectors (SQ300 series, 316L material, helium mass spectrometer leak detection, 5000-cycle endurance test); hydrogen pipeline solutions (hydrogen production / storage and transport / refuelling / use — four major scenarios).
• Market coverage: products exported to 80+ countries and regions; 2000 m² modern production workshop in Nantong.
• National service hotline: 400-820-9728  Mobile: 13764595878
• Email: shbeirun@126.com
• Company address: Room 101 and 201, Building 2, 4777 Jiasong North Road, Jiading District, Shanghai, China