Pumps
Ceramic seals and valves are used extensively in pumps. Pumps require a valve that allows fluid to pass in one direction only, such as a ball and seat valve. A ball and seat valve consists of a spherical ball resting in a tapered cylindrical opening. You can picture this by placing a tennis ball on top of a glass. While the tennis ball is in place, fluid is either held in the glass or prevented from getting into the glass. In the pump, pressure is applied to the fluid in the cylinder under the ball.