Meaning of gate valve
A gate valve is a valve in which the closure member (gate plate) moves vertically along the centerline of the passage. Gate valves are primarily used for shutoff in pipelines.
Gate valves are widely used as a type of valve, typically chosen for cutoff devices with diameters DN≥50mm. Sometimes, gate valves are also selected for cutoff devices with very small diameters.
1. Gate valves have the following advantages:
The fluid resistance is small.
The external force required for opening and closing is relatively small.
The flow direction of the medium is not restricted.
When fully opened, the sealing surface experiences less erosion from the working medium compared to a globe valve.
The shape is relatively simple, and the casting processability is good.

2. Gate valves also have their disadvantages:
Both the overall dimensions and the opening height are relatively large. The installation requires a large space.
During the opening and closing process, there is relative friction between the sealing surfaces, which can easily cause scratching.
Gate valves generally have two sealing surfaces, which adds some difficulties to processing, grinding, and maintenance.
Based on the structure, gate valves can be classified into:
(1) Parallel gate valve: A gate valve where the sealing surfaces are parallel to the vertical centerline, meaning the two sealing surfaces are parallel to each other. In parallel gate valves, the structure with thrust wedges is the most common, which involves a double-sided thrust wedge between the two gate plates. This type of gate valve is suitable for low-pressure, small to medium-sized diameters (DN40-300mm). There are also gate valves with springs between the two gate plates, which can generate a pre-tightening force, facilitating the sealing of the gate plates.
(2) Wedge gate valve: A gate valve where the sealing surface forms a certain angle with the vertical centerline, meaning the two sealing surfaces are wedge-shaped. The inclination angle of the sealing surface typically ranges from 2°52', 3°30', 5°, 8°, 10°, etc. The size of the angle mainly depends on the temperature of the medium. Generally, the higher the operating temperature, the larger the angle should be to reduce the possibility of wedging during temperature changes.
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