Silicon Nitride Ball Valve for Lithium Slurry Dosing — V-Port Control, DN15–DN80

Silicon Nitride Ball Valve Applications

• Lithium Battery Slurry (positive/negative electrode mix)

  ✅Key Advantages

  1. V-Port Dosing Stability: Equal-percentage characteristic holds a predictable Cv at small openings.
  2. Low CTE Trim Pair: Maintains sealing band across 20–120 °C duty cycles in mixing/transfer.
  3. Wear-resistant Sealing Band: Lapped Si₃N₄/ceramic interface resists particle scoring.

  ✅ Problem Solved

  At a cathode slurry line (solids 25–35 wt%), switching from metal trim to Si₃N₄ ball + ceramic seat reduced unplanned valve replacement from 3×/year to 1×/year, and dosing variability (±1σ at setpoint) improved by ~20–30% after V-port characterization. Data structure aligns with ISO 3290-2 roundness control and equal-percentage control curves documented by control valve practice.

• Hydrometallurgy (leaching/neutralisation with solids)

  ✅Key Advantages

  1. Abrasive Slurry Isolation: Hard sealing band tolerates entrained particles.
  2. Port Edge Relief: Geometry mitigates impact on opening, lowering seat chipping risk.
  3. Cv Window Matching: Trim sized to achieve the target Kv under solids loading assumptions.

  ✅ Problem Solved

  On a neutralization loop with ~10–15 wt% solids, adopting a V-port Si₃N₄ trim extended seat life to 18–24 months in Class 150 service and reduced cavitation-related leakage events, aligned with ISO 5208 leakage testing at each outage.

• Pulp & Paper (stock prep /coating)

  ✅Key Advantages

  1. Modulating Control in Filler Lines: V-port maintains ratio control with kaolin/filler.
  2. Low-Torque Rotation: Low-density Si₃N₄ supports fast actuation and trim inertia control.
  3. Surface Finish Integrity: Ball/seat Ra ≤0.2–0.4 µm limits fibre hang-up at the seal band.

  ✅ Problem Solved

  Coating-kitchen valves handling kaolin slurry reported 6–30-month service intervals depending on solids/pH; after upgrading to Si₃N₄ ball + ceramic seat and re-sizing the Cv, maintenance cycles stabilized at the upper band, with leakage meeting EN 12266-1 acceptance after each shutdown.

Si3N4 Ball Valve Usage Instructions

• Installation

  1. Verify face-to-face dimension, gasket fit, and flange rating (PN/ANSI) to ensure proper sealing and torque distribution. For V-port trims, align the flow direction arrow precisely to maintain the designed equal-percentage characteristic curve.
  2. Apply calibrated torque on flange bolts to prevent flange distortion and ensure even compression across the sealing gasket. Confirm actuator alignment and stem coupling on the ISO 5211 mounting pad to avoid side-loading on the valve stem.
  3. Before commissioning, flush the pipeline with clean media to remove welding slag, sand, or hard particles that could damage the ceramic seat or sealing band during the first actuation.

• Operation

  1. For dosing or modulating control, start from the manufacturer’s equal-percentage flow map to achieve stable Cv at partial openings. Fine-tune PID parameters to eliminate oscillation typically seen between 5–15% valve openings during low-flow regulation.
  2. Avoid dry cycling under heavy solids or unlubricated conditions, as ceramic-to-ceramic friction may cause micro-abrasion. If unavoidable, use a slow-open or soft-start actuation profile to minimize edge impact on the Si₃N₄ ball and seat.
  3. During continuous service, monitor torque and leakage trends in the control system. A gradual torque increase often indicates early wear or scaling, prompting cleaning before a full shutdown.

• Storage

  1. Keep valve ports fully capped and sealed to prevent dust or moisture ingress. Store at 5–40 °C with relative humidity below 70%, away from corrosive atmospheres or direct sunlight.
  2. Protect lapped ball and seat surfaces from vibration and impact; if stored longer than three months, reapply a thin protective film of neutral lubricant or silicone-based preservative before reinstallation.
  3. When moving or stacking, use foam or wooden cradles to avoid contact between ceramic components and hard surfaces.

• Cleaning /Maintenance

  1. After service or scheduled shutdowns, flush with a compatible neutral cleaning medium (such as deionized water or mild detergent solution) to remove deposits and fines from the sealing band.
  2. Avoid metal scrapers or abrasive pads on the lapped surfaces; instead, use soft lint-free cloths or polymer brushes.
  3. Inspect the seat band width, roundness, and leakage class per ISO 5208 / EN 12266-1 standards. Record torque and leakage test data each maintenance cycle to establish a performance baseline.
  4. Replace sealing components if the leakage rate exceeds class A/B or if microscopic surface pitting is detected under optical inspection.

• Common User Mistakes and Solutions

  1. Misalignment during actuator installation → Always check ISO 5211 interface flatness and stem key fit to prevent uneven torque.
  2. Premature wear from solids entrapment → Install upstream filters or strainers (mesh ≥ 80) and perform periodic line flushing.
  3. Valve sticking after long idle periods → Cycle the valve every few weeks to maintain lubrication on the ball-seat contact area and prevent dry friction.

Silicon Nitride Ceramic Ball Valve

1. Q: What is a silicon nitride ball valve and when should it be used instead of a metal valve?
   A silicon nitride ball valve is a ceramic-trim valve that uses a Si₃N₄ ball and lapped ceramic seat to control abrasive or corrosive media such as slurries, acids, or alkaline solutions. It replaces metal valves in applications where metallic trims suffer erosion, galling, or corrosion, such as lithium-ion battery slurry transfer, hydrometallurgy, and paper-stock processing.
2. Q: How does the V-port silicon nitride ball valve improve control accuracy in slurry flow?
   A: The V-shaped port provides an equal-percentage flow characteristic, allowing finer control at low openings and stable Cv across the control range. This geometry prevents sudden flow surges that can dislodge solids, ensuring smoother dosing in slurry mixing and coating systems.
3. Q: How is the leakage performance of a silicon nitride ball valve verified?
   A: Every valve is hydrostatically and pneumatically tested according to ISO 5208 / EN 12266-1. For tight shut-off service, leakage classes A–B can be achieved depending on size and pressure class. The lapped Si₃N₄ ball and ceramic seat ensure a repeatable sealing band even after long-term wear.
4. Q: Can a silicon nitride ball valve handle high-temperature or thermal-cycling operations?
   A: Yes. Silicon nitride’s low coefficient of thermal expansion (≈ 2.8–3.2 × 10⁻⁶/K) and high strength enable operation from ambient up to ~350 °C (depending on body material). The stable CTE pairing between the ball and seat minimizes leakage drift under thermal gradients or batch heating cycles.
5. Q: How is pricing determined for a silicon nitride ball valve？
   A: Pricing depends on valve size, pressure rating, ceramic grade, and order quantity. You can request Si₃N₄ ball valve quotes through ADCERAX’s engineering team for batch orders or special trims. The factory also provides low-cost Si₃N₄ ball valve solutions for non-critical applications while maintaining dimensional accuracy.
6. Q: Where can I find reliable sales for Si₃N₄ ball valve products？
   A: You can buy Si₃N₄ ball valve directly through ADCERAX, a specialized Si₃N₄ ball valve company and factory in China. ADCERAX offers both standard and customized silicon nitride ball valves, supporting engineering drawings, pressure class selection (PN16–PN40 / Class 150–300), and actuator options (ISO 5211).
7. Q: Where can I find Si₃N₄ ball valve wholesale suppliers in China?
   A: You can wholesale Si₃N₄ ball valve directly from ADCERAX, a ceramic valve factory in China specializing in silicon nitride products. The company offers bulk supply with stable quality, customizable sizes, and fast global delivery for industrial buyers.

Si3N4 Silicon Nitride Ceramic Ball Valve Reviews

• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  The performance remains stable under high-temperature conditions, with no deformation or cracking issues, thanks to the ceramic robotic arm we purchased from Adcerax.
  -- Whitney Romero (Engineer)
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  The wear-resistant ceramic balls have a low breakage rate, high grinding efficiency, and do not affect the whiteness of the material
  -- Ayoub (Purchasing Manager)
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  The wear-resistant ceramic balls have a low breakage rate, high grinding efficiency, and do not affect the whiteness of the material
  -- Ayoub (Purchasing Manager)
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  The wear-resistant ceramic balls have a low breakage rate, high grinding efficiency, and do not affect the whiteness of the material
  -- Ayoub (Purchasing Manager)