What exactly does a Gate Valve do?

Why is a Gate Valve called this?

Many people are confused when they first hear about a Gate Valve: Is this a "gate"? In fact, it is called a Gate Valve because there is a "door panel"-like component in its structure - that is, a "gate plate". This gate plate moves up and down when it is opened and closed, just like a small door. It allows water to flow through when it is opened, and blocks the water when it is closed. So the name is quite appropriate.

What exactly is it used for?

The main function of a Gate Valve is actually quite simple: it is used to control the flow of liquid or gas, either fully open or fully closed. It is not very suitable for "regulation", for example, if you want to make the water flow smaller, it is not very effective. If you want to close it, you have to close it completely, and if you want to open it, you have to open it completely. It is suitable for the working condition of "either there is water or there is no water".

Where are Gate Valve commonly used?

You may not know that Gate Valve is actually used in many places in our daily life. For example, it is also used in urban water supply networks, large factories, and even in some residential buildings. It can adapt to many media, including water, oil, and gas, so it has a wide range of uses. Especially on pipes with larger diameters, Gate Valve is a very common choice.

Why do many people prefer to use it?

A big reason is that it has low resistance. In layman's terms, when you open the Gate Valve, the gate inside is completely retracted to one side, and the fluid can go straight without detours, and the pressure drop is very small. Moreover, it has a simple structure and is not complicated to maintain. As long as the right material is selected, it will not be a problem to use it for several years or more.

Does Gate Valve have any disadvantages?

Of course there are. For example, it is slow to open and close because the gate moves up and down, and it takes many turns to open or close. Moreover, if you force it to be half open and half closed, it may be severely washed by the fluid, and it will be damaged faster over time. So it is not omnipotent, and using it in the right place is the key.