Gate Valves

Steel and iron are the most popular materials used in the manufacture of gate valves. Because of its strength and durability, steel is usually chosen for most industrial applications. Iron is commonly used for water, wastewater and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Other commonly used materials include stainless steel, bronze, and high alloys such as Hastelloy and Inconel, which offer enhanced resistance to corrosion and extreme temperatures.

Gate valves enable flow orifices to be virtually free of obstruction and friction due to their fully open and closed mode. An open gate valve produces approximately the same resistance to flow as a pipe with the same port size. This means that energy losses can be reduced.

For this reason, gate valves are still strongly considered for blocking or open/close applications. In some valve nomenclature, gate valves are also referred to as blocking valves.

However, gate valves are generally not suitable for regulating flow, and if a partially open gate valve is used for throttling or regulating flow it may result in damage to the valve flap or valve body seat ring due to fluid shock.