What are Gate Valves?

A type of control valve, gate valves operate by raising and lowering an internal gate to control how much of a medium enters and exits a system. With its primary feature consisting of an unobstructed passageway, gate valves generate minimal pressure loss when transferring a medium. As gate valves can be found in a myriad of sizes, materials, pressure ratings, gate designs, and bonnet designs.

Types and Functionality of Gate Valve

It is helpful to know which type of gate valve functions best for your application. Classified by their three primary body parts, gate valves vary based on their stem movement, the type of body bonnet joints being used, and what type of disk they implement to affect flow. Depending on the job at hand, to minimize faults and promote proper system regulation, it can be useful to familiarize yourself with various gate valve options and how they can best be applied to fit your needs.

Solid Wedge Gate Valve - Amongst being one of the most widely recognized valve types for its simplicity and durability, solid wedge gate valves are suitable for almost all fluids. Capable of being installed in any position and their potential for adaptability, solid wedge gate valves are a suitable choice for valves with turbulent flow. Contrarily, such valve types often do not compensate for pipe loads, heat, thermal expansion, and any of their effects. Susceptible to leaks and thermal locking under excessive pressure, heat, or a combination of the two, solid wedge gate valves are well suited for moderate pressure and temperature applications.

Flexible Wedge Gate Valve - Improving seat alignment while providing optimal security against leaks, flexible wedge gate valves are predominantly used for steam networks. Frequently used to transfer heated mediums, such valves must be capable of some degree of flexibility to compensate for thermal expansion. To reduce the possibility of thermal binding, flexible wedge gate valves are constructed with cuts or grooves along their parameters. Although these grooves are designed to provide the aforementioned valve with flexibility and strength, the longer and wider a groove is, the weaker a valve’s strength becomes. Prone to fluid collection within the disk, it is best to check these valves regularly to mitigate part corrosion.

Parallel Slide Gate Valve - Parallel slide gate valves are well suited for moderate to high temperature gasses and liquids. Spring-loaded with two parallel disks for enhanced sealing characteristics, parallel slide gates are tough against mechanical and thermal expansion. Constructed for upstream and downstream currents, these components are often employed for industrial use, making it easier to control isolated valves, block valves, high-temperature valves, and more.

Gate Valve by Bonnet Connection - Simple in design, the basic bonnet and body connection for gate valves allows for four distinct variations: a screwed bonnet, bolted-bonnet, welded-bonnet, and pressure-seal bonnet. Of these four types, a screwed bonnet is the simplest and least expensive for its design. However, bolted bonnets are the most popular option for their design and ease of application within various gate valve types. Unlike screwed bonnets though, bolted bonnets require a gasket to seal any remaining space between the body and bonnet. On the other hand, for a part where disassembly is not an issue, welded-bonnets are your best option. Without the need for multiple disconnecting parts, these bonnets are light weight and easy to install. Lastly, pressure-seal bonnets are utilized for high-pressure and high temperature systems.

Need assistance with obtaining a valve for your specific applications? At NSN Axis, we can easily help you find what you need. As a dependable distributor of wedged gates, gate valves, handwheels, bonnets, and their related parts, we invite you to browse our inventory for numerous industrial components and their applicable aparatusses. Due to our quality control and export compliance, we operate with AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015, and FAA AC 00-56B certification and accreditation. If you would like to request a quote for your comparisons, you can submit an RFQ form as provided on our website. Upon receipt, a dedicated account manager will quickly review and respond with a personalized solution to your needs in just 15 minutes or less, 24/7x365.