Comparison Between Reduce Bore & Full Bore Ball Valve

Full bore ball valve means that connection size and the port size/bore size is similar,
for example:
3 full bore ball valve means valve size 3 and port size/bore size 3.
while for reduce / regular bore ball valve port size/bore size will be smaller than the valve size
usually 1 size smaller,
for example:
3 reduce bore ball valve means valve size 3 and port size/bore size 2.
Full bore ball valve can replace the requirement for Reduced/Regular bore ball valve but
reduced/regular bore ball valve can not replace the requirement of full bore ball valve.
Full bore ball valve have some advantage compare to reduce bore ball valve as follows:

Flow Capacity
Pig ability (Pig
Launcher)

Full Bore Ball Valve

Reduce Bore Ball Valve
About similar to pipe size Smaller than pipe size
Suitable

Not suitable

Both full bore ball valve and reduce bore ball valve will have similar face to face dimension
according to API 6D or ASME B16.10 for the similar size and pressure rating, for example:3 x 3 Full Bore Ball Valve ANSI 300#, face to face dimension is 283 mm
3 x 2 Reduced/Regular Bore Ball Valve ANSI 300#, face to face dimension is 283 mm
Pressure rating between full bore ball valve and reduced bore ball valve will also remain the
same for similar material and pressure rating, for example
3 x 3 Full Bore Ball Valve ANSI 300#, A216 WCB body material, maximum pressure: 740 psi
3 x 2 Reduced/Regular Bore Ball Valve ANSI 300#, A216 WCB body material, maximum
pressure: 740 psi

Please refer to below drawing for easier illustration on the difference between full bore and
reduced/regular bore..

As a conclusion:
Full bore ball valve is more superior than reduced/regular bore ball valve and can replace its
requirement. Since Benefit of full bore is more than Reduced Bore, hence worldwide stockiest
have common practice to stock full bore ball valve only to minimize their stock level and to
make larger stock in various of body material, ANSI rating, etc. It means could help customer
to meet their project dateline.
Full Bore ball valve will not make any implication on the process flow because ball valve is for
on-off application only. That means ball valve only have 2 condition whether it is fully open
(90 deg) or fully close (0 deg).