What is a Gate Valve
The gate valve is a fairly common valve that can be seen in the piping systems of many homes and structures. It is the preferred valve for houses because it is rather easy for any homeowner to operate. It can also be used for more industrial purposes and are instantly recognizable.
Since this particular valve’s design is for it to either be opened all the way or closed all the way, the drop in pressure across the actual valve is extremely limited when opened, making it possible for fluid to flow through nearly seamlessly and the seal that exists between the valve’s disk and the valve’s seat is strong enough to resist any pressure that may be coming from the fluid.
Like with any other kind of valve, the gate valve has its advantages and disadvantages and recognizing what these are will provide any potential user the ability to make a better informed choice in what kind of valve they should use. Also, knowing the pros and cons can make the user know what to expect and what needs more looking after.
One of the advantages of gate valves is its high capacity as well as its ability to seal tightly, making the shutoff of any flow possible and any leakage nearly impossible. This particular kind of valve is also known to be very cost effective, which is probably why it is a popular choice for countless residences. Gate valves also have low friction loss because there is almost nothing obstructing the flow of the fluid when the valve is fully opened, creating little resistance to the flow.
As earlier mentioned, gate valves are meant to be fully opened or fully closed and partially opening the valve is bound to cause vibration which in turn leads to damage to the valve. Another thing that needs to be taken into consideration is that the valve disks and valve seats go through a great deal of wear and tear, making it necessary to replace them more often than compared to other kinds of valves. Because it is either fully opened or fully closed, gate valves are thought to have difficulty in controlling flow.
Overall, the gate valve remains a great choice as a control valve for any piping system that does not need to be constantly turned on or off. It is able to handle large flows of fluid, making it work for industrial purposes as well. Gate valves can also work with several materials such as oil, gas, air, steam, heavy and corrosive liquids, non-condensing gases, and slurries, making it a versatile selection.
The most important thing to remember when gate valves are used in a piping system is how it is maintained. According to an article entitled how to maintain a gate valve, the proper maintenance of gate valves can help ensure that they function properly and last for years so making sure that these valves are taken care of accordingly enables there to be more pros than cons.
