Gate valves and globe valves are commonly used cut-off valves in industrial pipelines, and there are significant differences between the two in structure, function and application scenarios. The following comparative analysis from a number of dimensions to help understand the core differences:
Structure and working principle comparison
1. Gate valve
Structure features:
Valve body has a flat plate gate, gate and fluid flow perpendicular to the direction, through the lift to achieve open and close.
The gate is divided into rigid single gate, elastic gate or double gate (wedge structure), the sealing surface is often welded carbide.
Working principle:
When fully open, the gate is completely out of the flow path, the medium passes through in a straight line, with minimal resistance; when fully closed, the gate presses against the sealing surface of the valve seat to block the medium.
Key features: the gate lifting stroke is long, open and close the need to overcome greater friction (especially high-pressure conditions).
2. Block valve
Structural characteristics:
Valve flap along the centre line of the valve seat for lifting movement, the sealing surface is flat or conical, and the valve seat to achieve sealing.
The flow path is ‘S’ type (straight-through), the medium from the valve seat below the inflow, above the outflow (‘low into the high out’).
Principle of operation:
When the valve flap opens to lift off the valve seat, the medium through the seat and the valve flap gap flow; close the valve flap presses the valve seat, blocking the medium.
Key features: short valve stroke, fast opening and closing speed, can be adjusted by opening the flow.
Application Scenario Comparison
1. Typical applications of gate valve
Large-calibre pipelines: such as urban water supply network (DN ≥ 300), natural gas pipelines, due to the large calibre of the gate valve resistance loss is much smaller than the globe valve.
Bidirectional flow system: such as heat exchanger inlet and outlet, circulating water pipeline, no need to distinguish the direction of media flow.
Low resistance demand scenarios: steam main line, oil pipeline, reduce energy loss.
Frequent opening and closing scenarios: although the opening and closing speed is slow, but the wear of the gate plate is uniform, long life (such as sewage treatment plant gates).
2. Typical applications of globe valves
Flow regulation scenarios: such as boiler water supply pipeline (regulating water intake), heat exchanger bypass (control of hot media flow).
Precise control of small calibre: instrument piping (DN≤25), sampling system (needle-type globe valve), precision control by fine-tuning the valve opening.
Unidirectional flow system: in front of steam traps, pump outlets (when required with check valves, globe valves can double as cut-off and regulation).
High-pressure and high-temperature working conditions: such as power station steam pipelines (forged steel globe valve), due to the strong pressure-bearing capacity of the sealing surface and compact structure.

Yantai Valtone Valve Co., Ltd.

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carrie@valtone-valve.com

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