We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the gate valve in this article. Gate valves are most suitable where we require uninterrupted circulation and low-pressure drop. The gate valves control the flow of fluid by starting and stopping the medium. They are not suitable for throttling applications. We must consider the advantages and disadvantages of the gate valve to determine its suitability for a particular application.
The advantages and disadvantage of the gate valve are as follows.
Advantages of Gate Valves
The followings are the advantages of gate valve.
1. Low Fluid Resistance
The gate valve body has straight through shape. Therefore, it does not hinder the flow direction. The fluid flow in a straight line through the valve. As a result, the valve has the minimum resistance to flow when valve is fully open.
2. Superior Sealing Performance
If we compare the gate valve with a shut off valve, the gate valve provides better sealing than shut-off valves. The opening and closing response of the gate valve is faster than the shut off valve.
3. Wide Application Range
The gate valve is suitable for the applications with mediums like steam, oil, and other media. Even the gate valves are suitable for the mediums that contains the granular solids and high viscosity. In low vacuum system, we can use the gate valve for venting.
4. Suitable for Bidirectional Flow
The gate valves performance is the same for bidirectional flow. The gate valve does not hinder the flow of the medium and they are suitable for bidirectional flow applications. Thus, the gate valves are suitable for those application where flow direction may change. The gate valve is simple and easier to install in comparison to other types of valves.
Disadvantages of Gate Valves
The followings are the disadvantages of gate valve.
1. More opening & closing Time
When valve opens, the valve plate lift the upper part of the valve chamber. And, when valve closes, the valve plate fall into the valve seat. The distance between the upper part and the valve seat of the gate valve is relatively larger, as a result the valve takes a longer time for opening and closing. Therefore, the gate valve is not fit for those applications that need rapid actuation.
2. Prone to Scratches
During opening and closing process, the friction between valve plate and two sealing surfaces may create excessive friction that may lead to scratches on sealing surfaces. In a long run, the scratches impact on sealing performance and deteriorates the useful life of the valve. In this condition, we can replace the seal or replace the gate valve.
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