Gate valves operate by moving a gate or wedge-shaped disc perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow. When fully open, fluid resistance is minimal, making them ideal for applications requiring unobstructed flow. Their simple, robust design ensures reliable performance across various operating conditions, which is why they are widely used in critical infrastructure systems.
Gate Valve Working Principle
Rotating the handwheel or actuator drives the valve stem to lift the gate, thereby opening the valve. When the gate reaches its highest point, the gate’s opening aligns perfectly with the valve body’s bore, creating a straight-through flow path. Fluid can then flow smoothly in either direction, and the valve is fully open.
Rotating the handwheel in the opposite direction drives the gate downward to close the valve. The sealing surface at the bottom of the gate presses against the seat’s sealing surface; once full contact and sufficient sealing pressure are achieved, the flow path is completely blocked, and the valve is fully closed, effectively shutting off the medium.
Common Gate Valve Installation Errors
Inverted Installation: The medium may accumulate in the bonnet cavity, leading to stem corrosion and making packing replacement extremely difficult.
Strictly Prohibit Inverted Installation: Installing the valve with the handwheel facing downward causes debris to accumulate inside the bonnet, which can corrode the threads.
Improper Lifting: For large-diameter valves, never attach wire ropes to the handwheel or stem, as this can cause bending or deformation.
Forced Flange Alignment: If the gap between flanges is excessive, forcing the bolts tight can cause uneven stress on the valve body, creating internal stress or even causing the body to crack.
Neglecting Pipeline Flushing: Installing the valve without first removing welding slag or debris can easily scratch the sealing surfaces and lead to internal leakage.
Covtvalve adheres to rigorous manufacturing processes and designs and produces valves according to industry standards, aiming to provide you with high-quality valve products.
