Gate And Ball Float Valves – Operation, Applications And Benefits

Gate Valves

A gate valve has a gate fixed to the stem to control the flow of the material. A gate is a solid disk that is lifted and returned to open and close the valve. A bonnet controls the gate. Rotating the bonnet clockwise and anticlockwise will open and close the valve. You need to rotate 360 degrees to open the valve completely, and hence it is also called Multi-Turn Valve.

Also Read : Handling Wear And Tear On Ball Valves

Speed of operation and the flow is important in valves as abrupt operation, and flow may cause water hammer risk. A rapid shut off will abruptly stop the flow, which will build pressure caused by the momentum of the operation. An increase in pressure creates a noise that sounds like a hammer hitting the pipe. This phenomenon is called a water hammer. Frequent water hammer will cause a rupture in the pipe leading to leaks in the system.

Some of the differences between the two valves based on the operation are –

Ball Valves -

• Offers fast shut off operation to close the valve
• Causes risk of water hammer due to fast closing and opening
• Easy to detect close and open state with the position of the handle
• Requires additional space to incorporate the valve handle
• Suits bores of size 2" and less
• Provides tight seal for longer duration
• Less prone to damage

Gate Valves –

• Offers slow shut off operation to close the valve
• Cause no water hammer risk due to slow operation
• Tough to detect the close and open state of the valve
• Requires lesser space to install than ball valves
• Suits bores of size 2" and more
• Prone to leakage as the seal is not tight
• Less durable as the stems are corrosive

Criteria For The Best Gate And Ball Valves

When choosing between the valves for your industrial project, consider the following selection criteria so you don't go wrong.

• A ball valve will have more than two ports, while gate valves have only two ports.
• A ball valve has a smaller flow capacity compared to gate valves.
• A gate valve provides slower operation as you need to turn the bonnet 360 degrees to open and close, whereas ball valves have faster closing and opening speed.
• Both gate valves and ball valves suit the low-pressure application. However, gate valves will suit high-pressure application as well.
• A ball valve has tight seals and can completely shut off the flow compared to gate valves.
• Ball valves are more durable and need less maintenance than gate valves.
• Ball valves are more economical and cost-effective compared to gate valves.

Common Applications Of Gate And Ball Valves

Both gate and ball valve are used in commercial, industrial and residential applications. Let us take a closer look at the different applications that suit gate and ball valves.

Ball Valves –

Due to its fast opening and closing operation, ball valves are most suitable for any emergency applications that require fast turn off/on operation. Applications that require a tight seal like natural gas make use of ball valves. All new plumbing systems in residential projects use ball valves as it requires frequent shutoffs. Fire protection and marine systems also use ball valves.

Gate Valves –

Gate valves are used in systems that do not require frequent shutoff. It is more commonly found in old plumbing systems. Applications that use viscous material and slurry use gate valves as easier to maintain and clean than ball valves. Hence, the pharmaceutical, beverage and food industries use gate valves. High pressure and temperature applications like water treatment, mining and power plants also use gate valves.

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