They are the on/off switches on the fluid control industry and perhaps they are found in every refinery, chemical plant, power plant and industrial facility. Gate valves at stvvalves.com are available for one primary purpose- to prevent flow. Because of this, they are usually referred to as “stop” or “block” valves. Gate valves are made in a wide range of sizes- from ?” through 144”.
It is just not recommended to work gate valves from the partially open position, as well as to use them in throttling service. When a gate valve is partially open, it closure element (disc or wedge) can vibrate contrary to the seats and be scratched causing them to lose their seating integrity.
The chief benefit of a gate valve is that it offers without any resistance to flow inside open position. Only a full port ball valve can equal the gate valve’s flow characteristics. Due to their symmetrical design and equilateral seating, gate valves can be used to prevent flow from either direction. They are available in every material from your shiny brass construction from the diminutive ?” water valves about the hardware store shelf, to your exotic high alloy models obtained in nuclear power installations.
In the nuclear industry, where cobalt are not used for the susceptibility to irradiation, super-hardfacing materials for example Ultamet and NitroMax are being used.
Today, valve design engineers and customers have a many materials from which to choose for metallic trim. Many austenitic stainless steels (300 series) are being used, from 304ss to stabilized grades for example 347ss and beyond. Some extremely corrosive fluids require even tougher trim materials such because Inconels and Hastelloys.
While the supplies listed above works extremely well in quarter-turn valves, additional metallic selections for balls and seats exist within the form of metallic coatings. These coatings are utilized most often in metal-seated ball valves.
