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What is a gate valve best suited for?

Author: Evelyn y

Jun. 17, 2024

47 0 0

Tags: Mechanical Parts & Fabrication Services

What are Gate Valves? - T-T Pumps

A gate valve is a device used to stop and start the flow of liquid and isolate sections of a water supply as required. Sometimes referred to as a sluice valve, there are many different types of gate valves suitable for various applications in utility distribution, industrial and HVAC pipeline settings. Let&#;s take a look at what a gate valve is used for, the differences between the most common types, and the things to consider when specifying a gate valve.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website.

WHAT IS A GATE VALVE?

A gate valve is a type of linear valve used to isolate areas of a water supply. As the name suggests, it acts like a gate that shuts off the flow and opens it again when needed.

Gate valves work via a gate or wedge that lifts (opens) or lowers (closes) into the path of the flowing liquid. Motion is produced by an actuator that is connected to the stem of the gate, which may be manual, electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically powered. They may have a rising stem, meaning it is fixed to the gate, or a non-rising stem, where it is fixed to the actuator and remains within the valve body. The latter is most commonly used in the waterworks industry and is suitable for underground applications where there is limited vertical space. 

Gate valves may also sometimes be referred to as stop valves, line valves, wedge gate valves and sluice valves, but they are not to be confused with sluice gates or penstocks. These are altogether larger devices used to severe the flow of sewage and water in treatment plants and drainage systems, etc.

WHAT IS A GATE VALVE USED FOR?

A gate valve is commonly used for isolation duties within potable water, wastewater, sewage and fire main applications. They may be used during maintenance tasks and repair works, as well as being deployed in new installations.

There are many different types of gate valves to suit different applications. Some of the most common designs include wedge gate valves, parallel gate valves, knife gate valves, and rising/non-rising stem gate valves. Generally speaking, you can classify gate valves in three different ways:

  • According to the disk type - e.g. taper wedge vs flexible vs split/parallel disk gate valves
  • According to stem movement - rising stem vs non-rising stem gate valves
  • According to bonnet joint - screwed vs bolted vs welded

The best type to deploy will very much depend on what the gate valve is used for. For example, metal seat valves use a non-ferrous metal face, making them ideally suited to wastewater and sewage applications. When isolating water and clean neutral fluids, resilient seated gate valves provide the ideal solution and work using a rubber encapsulated wedge. Meanwhile, knife gate valves are ideal for handling dense fluids and dry bulk solids. Most gate valves deployed in the waterworks industry have non-rising stems, also referred to as inside screw, meaning the stem remains within the body of the valve.

T-T Flow offers a wide variety of gate valves designed to British and European Standard, with many different options to suit differing applications.

Link to BSTV

For more information or to discuss your requirements, speak to our expert team on +44 (0) .

Gate Valves vs. Ball Valves: How to Choose the Right One

As we mentioned, ball valves operate by rotating a ball 90° while gate valves are controlled by moving a gate up or down. Because of their design, ball valves can perform an almost immediate shutoff, whereas gate valves are not able to act as quickly. This makes ball valves a better choice for applications where fast cycle speed is desired.

The 90° operation of ball valves makes them faster to cycle, both manually and with an actuator. This is a benefit in most instances but can potentially cause water hammer in high-pressure applications. If the pressure is high enough, the pipe could weaken or even break, which is why users of manual ball valves should turn the levers slowly to avoid water hammer.

Applications & Use Cases

Gate Valve Uses Ball Valve Uses Shutoff and isolation service for:
  • Wastewater Plants
  • Power Plants
  • Mining
  • Process Plants
  • Large Water Supply Lines

Gate valves are commonly found in older home plumbing systems.

On/off control for specialized industries including:
  • Oil & Gas
  • Food & Beverage Equipment
  • Automotive
  • Vehicle Wash Systems
  • Power Processing
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Chemical Admixtures & Treatment
  • Irrigation & Water Treatment Equipment
  • Manufacturing Facilities

Ball valves are also found in newer home plumbing systems.

Cost

In the gate valve vs. ball valve debate, cost is a major differentiating factor. Up front, gate valves are less expensive than ball valves, but they can be more susceptible to corrosion which means they will need repairs and replacement more frequently. Ball valves have a higher initial cost, but they are the better choice for longevity since they are more durable and highly effective at forming tight seals.

Additional resources:
What Are the Advantages of Grey Iron Casting for Usa?

Maintenance

As we just discussed, gate valves are, in general, less durable than ball valves. In moderate or high cycle applications, gate valves will require routine maintenance or replacement. Most ball valves are designed to be maintenance-free and should be replaced rather than repaired. Three-piece ball valves, however, are designed so that the valve seats and seals can be easily replaced without removing the valve from service. This is why 3-piece ball valves are often used in high cycle or high pressure applications where valve seal failure is likely to occur more quickly. However, 3-piece ball valves typically come with a higher up-front cost than the more popular 1-piece or 2-piece body constructions.

What are Gate ValveGate Valves? - T-T Pumps

A gate valve is a device used to stop and start the flow of liquid and isolate sections of a water supply as required. Sometimes referred to as a sluice valve, there are many different types of gate valves suitable for various applications in utility distribution, industrial and HVAC pipeline settings. Let&#;s take a look at what a gate valve is used for, the differences between the most common types, and the things to consider when specifying a gate valve.

WHAT IS A GATE VALVE?

A gate valve is a type of linear valve used to isolate areas of a water supply. As the name suggests, it acts like a gate that shuts off the flow and opens it again when needed.

Gate valves work via a gate or wedge that lifts (opens) or lowers (closes) into the path of the flowing liquid. Motion is produced by an actuator that is connected to the stem of the gate, which may be manual, electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically powered. They may have a rising stem, meaning it is fixed to the gate, or a non-rising stem, where it is fixed to the actuator and remains within the valve body. The latter is most commonly used in the waterworks industry and is suitable for underground applications where there is limited vertical space. 

Gate valves may also sometimes be referred to as stop valves, line valves, wedge gate valves and sluice valves, but they are not to be confused with sluice gates or penstocks. These are altogether larger devices used to severe the flow of sewage and water in treatment plants and drainage systems, etc.

WHAT IS A GATE VALVE USED FOR?

A gate valve is commonly used for isolation duties within potable water, wastewater, sewage and fire main applications. They may be used during maintenance tasks and repair works, as well as being deployed in new installations.

There are many different types of gate valves to suit different applications. Some of the most common designs include wedge gate valves, parallel gate valves, knife gate valves, and rising/non-rising stem gate valves. Generally speaking, you can classify gate valves in three different ways:

  • According to the disk type - e.g. taper wedge vs flexible vs split/parallel disk gate valves
  • According to stem movement - rising stem vs non-rising stem gate valves
  • According to bonnet joint - screwed vs bolted vs welded

The best type to deploy will very much depend on what the gate valve is used for. For example, metal seat valves use a non-ferrous metal face, making them ideally suited to wastewater and sewage applications. When isolating water and clean neutral fluids, resilient seated gate valves provide the ideal solution and work using a rubber encapsulated wedge. Meanwhile, knife gate valves are ideal for handling dense fluids and dry bulk solids. Most gate valves deployed in the waterworks industry have non-rising stems, also referred to as inside screw, meaning the stem remains within the body of the valve.

T-T Flow offers a wide variety of gate valves designed to British and European Standard, with many different options to suit differing applications.

For more information or to discuss your requirements, speak to our expert team on +44 (0) .

Gate Valves vs. Ball Valves: How to Choose the Right One

As we mentioned, ball valves operate by rotating a ball 90° while gate valves are controlled by moving a gate up or down. Because of their design, ball valves can perform an almost immediate shutoff, whereas gate valves are not able to act as quickly. This makes ball valves a better choice for applications where fast cycle speed is desired.

The 90° operation of ball valves makes them faster to cycle, both manually and with an actuator. This is a benefit in most instances but can potentially cause water hammer in high-pressure applications. If the pressure is high enough, the pipe could weaken or even break, which is why users of manual ball valves should turn the levers slowly to avoid water hammer.

Applications & Use Cases

Gate Valve Uses Ball Valve Uses Shutoff and isolation service for:
  • Wastewater Plants
  • Power Plants
  • Mining
  • Process Plants
  • Large Water Supply Lines

Gate valves are commonly found in older home plumbing systems.

On/off control for specialized industries including:
  • Oil & Gas
  • Food & Beverage Equipment
  • Automotive
  • Vehicle Wash Systems
  • Power Processing
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Chemical Admixtures & Treatment
  • Irrigation & Water Treatment Equipment
  • Manufacturing Facilities

Ball valves are also found in newer home plumbing systems.

Cost

In the gate valve vs. ball valve debate, cost is a major differentiating factor. Up front, gate valves are less expensive than ball valves, but they can be more susceptible to corrosion which means they will need repairs and replacement more frequently. Ball valves have a higher initial cost, but they are the better choice for longevity since they are more durable and highly effective at forming tight seals.

Maintenance

As we just discussed, gate valves are, in general, less durable than ball valves. In moderate or high cycle applications, gate valves will require routine maintenance or replacement. Most ball valves are designed to be maintenance-free and should be replaced rather than repaired. Three-piece ball valves, however, are designed so that the valve seats and seals can be easily replaced without removing the valve from service. This is why 3-piece ball valves are often used in high cycle or high pressure applications where valve seal failure is likely to occur more quickly. However, 3-piece ball valves typically come with a higher up-front cost than the more popular 1-piece or 2-piece body constructions.

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