EB-2001

Engineering Bulletin Rev. A 11/10

Page 1 of 17

Ball Valve Torques

and
Actuator Selection
Information

General Information:
This bulletin contains basic information on
determining the actual ball valve torques to
be used for actuator selection. The
following pages contain valve torque tables
for the various Sharpe Valve models, along
with Media and Service Factors which must
be considered.
Ball Valve Torques:
The torque values listed in the following
tables are breakaway torques from the
closed position. Breakaway torques are
determined by measured after the valve
has been in the closed position under
pressure for a set time period, and are the
highest torques expected.
Seat Materials:
The seat materials used in a valve will
significantly influence operating torque.
Softer, lower-friction seats (such as TFE or
TFMTM will be lower in torque than the
harder, higher friction factor materials such
as Delrin or PEEK. Different tables have
been provided where seat materials
significantly affect operating torque
Service Application:
How the valve will be operated, and how
frequently also affect actuator selection and
torque. Infrequent operation will require
higher torque values than for valves in
modulating services, for example. Service
factors are provided in the tables at the end
of this bulletin.
Line Media:
What is flowing through the valve can have
the most significant effect on valve
operating torques. Fine solids, slurries, or
EB-2001
Page 2 of 17
very viscous fluids can have great effect,
not only on torque, but also on valve
service life. Media factors are also
provided in the tables at the end of this
bulletin.
Torque Reduction Factor:
When being used with rack & pinion
pneumatic spring return actuators, a 0.70
multiplier may be applied to the ball valve
torque.
The valve torques are breakaway values
from the closed position, and spring return
actuators are selected on the minimum of
either the spring ending or air ending
torques. A “SR” actuator selected on this
basis would probably be over-sized, since
the valve torque is at maximum, and
actuator torque is at minimum.
The 0.70 factor reflects the maximum valve
torque expected other than breakaway, and
considers that the maximum output torque
of the spring return rack and pinion
actuator is at the start of the stroke.
This would not apply to a scotch yoke or
crank arm actuator, because the torque
curve for these designs dips in the center,
and may fall below the valve running torque
if not sized based on full break torque for
the valve.
The 0.70 torque factor does not apply to
double acting rack & pinion actuators
because the output torque is constant over
the full stroke. Thus, double acting
actuators are sized based on maximum
valve torque and maximum actuator torque.
 EB-2001
Page 3 of 17

Sharpe 12 and 13 Series Dir-Act (lbf-in)

TFM and NOVA seats

Series 13 Series 12
Nova/TFM PEEK
3 3
¼, /8, ½” 40 ¼, /8, ½” 50 70
¾” 80 ¾” 100 140
1” 110 1” 140 200
1 ¼” 160 1 ¼” 200 280
1 ½” 190 1 ½” 240 340
2” 250 2” 320 450

SHARPE 66, 86 and 88 Series (lbf-in)

Torque Values at Maximum Rating
Teflon Seats RTFE Seats Cavity Filler

½” 65 ½” 70 ½” 80
¾” 80 ¾” 85 ¾” 110
1” 120 1” 126 1” 180
1¼” 180 1¼” 190 1¼” 215
1½” 215 1½” 226 1½” 300
2” 300 2” 315 2” 450
2½” 680 2½” 715 2½” 1000
3” 800 3” 840 3” 1600
4” 1750 4” 1838 4” 3000
 EB-2001, Rev. A
Page 4 of 17

SERIES 84/99 TORQUES

PTFE (T) SEATS

10000
10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000

3000
4"

2000

3"

1000
1000
900
800
700
600
2-1/2"
500
TORQUE (LBF-IN)

400 2"

300 1-1/2"

200 1-1/4"

1"
100
100
90
80
70 3/4"
60
1/4"-1/2"
50
40

30

20

10
10
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100
PRESSURE (PSID)
 BB-2001, Rev. A
Page 5 of 17

SERIES 84/99 TORQUES

TFM SEATS

10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000

4000

3000

2000 4"

3" 2-1/2"

1000
900
800
700
600 2"
500
TORQUE (LBF-IN)

400 1-1/2"

300

200 1-1/4"

1"
100
90
80
70
60
50
3/4"
40
1/4"-1/2"
30

20

10
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600
PRESSURE (PSID)
 EB-2001, Rev. A
Page 6 of 17

SERIES 84/99 TORQUES

RTFE ("R") SEATS

10000
10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000

3000 4"

2000

3"
2-1/2"
2-1/2"

1000
1000
900
800
700 2"
600
500
1-1/2"
Torque (lbf-in)

400

300
1-1/4"

200

1"

100
100
90
80 3/4"
70
1/4-1/2
60
50
40

30

20

10
10
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600
Pressure (PSID)
 EB-2001, Rev. A
Page 7 of 17

SERIES 84/99 TORQUES

NOVA (N) SEATS

10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000

4000

3000 4"

2000

3" 2-1/2"

1000
900
800
700 2"
600
500 1-1/2"
Torque (lbf-in)

400

300
1-1/4"

200

1"

100
90 3/4"
80 1/4"-1/2"
70
60
50

40

30

20

10
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600
Pressure (PSID)
 EB-2001, Rev. A
Page 8 of 17

SERIES 84/99 TORQUES

UHMWPE SEATS

10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000

4000

3000
4"

2000

3"

1000
900
800
700
600
2-1/2"
500
TORQUE (LBF-IN)

400
2"

300
1-1/2"
1-1/4"
200

1"

100
90
80
3/4"
70
60
1/4"-1/2"
50

40

30

20

10
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200
PRESSURE (PSID)
 EB-2001, Rev. A
Page 9 of 17

SERIES 84/99 TORQUES

DELRIN SEATS

1000
900
800

700

600
2"
500

400

1-1/2"
300

1-1/4"

200
1"
Torque (lbf-in)

3/4"
100
90
1/4"-1/2"
80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
Pressure (PSID) x 100
 EB-2001, Rev. A
Page 10 of 17

SERIES 84/99 TORQUES

PEEK SEATS
10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000

4000

3000

4"
2000

3" 2-1/2"

1000
900
800
700 2"
600
500
Torque (lbf-in)

1-1/2"
400
1-1/4"
300
1"

200

3/4"

1/4"-1/2"
100
90
80
70
60
50

40

30

20

10
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32

Pressure (PSID) x 100

 EB-2001 Rev. A
page 11 of 17

SERIES 84/99 TORQUES

RTFE Cryo
10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4"
4000

3000

2000 3
2-1/2"

1000
900 2"
800
700
600 1-1/2"
500
Torque (lbf-in)

400
1-1/4"
300

200 1"

3/4"
100
90 1/4-1/2"
80
70
60
50
40

30

20

10
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600
Pressure (PSID)
 EB-2001 Rev. A
page 12 of 17

SERIES 84/99 TORQUES

PCTFE (Kel-F) Cryo

10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000 4"

4000

3000
3"
2-1/2"
2000

2"
1000
900
800
700
600 1-1/2"
500
Torque (lbf-in)

400
1-1/4"
300

200 1"

3/4"
100
90 1/4-1/2"
80
70
60
50
40

30

20

10
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600
Pressure (PSID)
 EB-2001
Page 13 of 17

SERIES 50/FS50 TORQUES

CLASS 150/300
TFM / RTFE / NOVA SEATS
100000
90000
80000
70000
60000
50000
40000

30000

12"
20000
10"
8"

10000
9000
8000 6"
7000
6000
5000
4000

3000 4"

2000
Torque (lbf-in)

1000 3"
900
800
700 2-1/2"
600
500 2"
400

300 1-1/2"

200

1"

100
90 3/4"
80
70
60 1/2"
50
40

30

20

10
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800
Pressure (PSID)
 EB-2001 Rev. A
Page 14 of 17

SERIES 50 TORQUES
CL 600 TFM / RTFE / NOVA SEATS

10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000

4000 4"

3000

2000

3"

1000
900
800
700 2"
600
500
Torque (lbf-in)

1-1/2"
400

300

200

1"

100
90
3/4"
80
70
60 1/2"

50

40

30

20

10
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600

Pressure (PSID)
 EB-2001, Rev.A
Page 15 of 17

SERIES 54 TORQUE CHART

RTFE AND NOVA SEATS

10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000 8"
4000

3000 6
"

2000

1000
900
800
700
4"
600
500
Torque (lbf-in)

3"
400 2-1/2"

300 2"

1-1/2"
200

100
90
80
70 1"
60
50

40

30

20

10
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320

Pressure (PSID)
 EB-2001, Rev. A
Page 16 of 17

SER. 60 Torques
CL2500 Delrin/PEEK Seats

10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000

4000

3000

2000

2"
1000
900
800
700
600
1-1/2"
TORQUE (lbs-in)

500

400

300
1"

200 3/4"

100
90
80
70 1/2"
60
50

40

30

20

10
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6500 7000
PRESSURE (PSID)
 EB-2001
Page 17 of 17

Series 99 Torques (lbf-in)

Use values in tables for Series 84 valves, except select one size larger. For example, to find
the torque for a 1-1/2” Series 99 valve, use the torque value listed for a 2” Series 84 valve.

Media and Service Factors:

Media Factors Multiplier Service Factors Multiplier
Clean, particle free, non- 1.00 Simple On and Off Operations 1.00
lubricating (water, alcohol, etc.)
Clean, particle free, lubricating 0.80 Throttling 1.20
(oils, hydraulic fluid, etc
Slurries or heavily corroded and 2.00 Positioner Control 1.50
contaminated systems
Gas or saturated steam, clean 1.00 Once per day Operations 1.20
and wet
Gas or superheated steam, clean 1.30 Once every two days or a "Plant 1.50
and dry Critical" Operation
Gas, dirty unfiltered e.g. natural 1.50
gas, Chlorine

Design Factors Multiplier

Spring Return - R &P Actuator 0.70
All Other Actuators 1.00

Torque Determination Example:

3” Series 84 w/Nova Seats, 600 PSIG, Nitrogen Gas, On-Off Service, Fail Closed Actuator
Basic Torque Design Factor Media Factor Service Factor Sizing Torque
1393 X 0.70 X 1.30 X 1.00 = 1449 lbf-in