Essentially, the ball valve is a quarter turn rotary valve, that is, it is rotated 90 degrees to fully open or close. It consists of a sphere with a hole that stops, allowing or slowing the flow of fluid or gas through the pipe, depending on the direction of the turn.
Take a look at the advantages of using a ball valve:
Ball valves are easy to use components that can be obtained at relatively low cost. They are excellent at maintaining and regulating high capacity, high pressure and high flow, so they are suitable for many different types of applications.
Ball valves are also durable and offer years of reliable service and are easy to repair or replace. For these reasons, and because they provide a tight seal with minimal leakage in the event of complete closure, they are one of the most widely used types of rotary valves.
Note on ball valve pressure: The ball valve will rotate regardless of the pressure from the supply end. Moreover, if the hole through the valve has the same (or larger) diameter as the supply tube, there is virtually no limit or pressure drop when it is fully open.