Key Differences between Gate Valves And Globe Valves And Comparison of Application Scenarios

In industrial fluid control systems, gate valves and globe valves are the two most common types of valves. Although they can both achieve on-off control of fluid, there are significant differences in structure, working principle, performance characteristics and application scenarios. Understanding these differences is helpful for choosing the appropriate valve type in practical engineering.

Structure and working principle

           Gate valve

• Structure:The gate valve is mainly composed of valve body, valve cover, gate plate, valve stem and handwheel. The gate plate is wedge-shaped or parallel and can move up and down.

• Working principle: By rotating the handwheel to drive the valve stem, the gate plate moves up and down perpendicular to the fluid direction to achieve opening or closing. When fully opened, the gate plate is completely separated from the flow channel, and the fluid resistance is small; when fully closed, the gate plate is closely fitted with the valve seat, and the sealing performance is good.

  Globe valve

• Structure: The globe valve is mainly composed of valve body, valve cover, valve disc, valve stem and handwheel. The valve disc is circular or conical and can move up and down.

  Working principle: By rotating the handwheel to drive the valve stem, the valve disc moves up and down along the center line of the valve seat to achieve opening or closing. When opened, the valve disc leaves the valve seat, and the fluid passes through the gap between the valve disc and the valve seat; when closed, the valve disc is closely fitted with the valve seat to prevent the fluid from passing through.

  Key differences

• Flow resistance characteristics
  • Gate valve: When fully open, the fluid passage has almost no obstruction and low flow resistance. It is suitable for occasions with low requirements for flow resistance.
  • Globe valve: The fluid passage is S-shaped and has a large flow resistance. It is not suitable for systems with strict requirements for flow resistance.

• Sealing performance
  • Gate valve: The sealing surface is in planar contact and has good sealing performance. However, after long-term use or being scoured by the medium, it is easy to wear, resulting in a decrease in sealing performance.
  • Globe valve: The sealing surface is in linear contact and has excellent sealing performance. After wear, the sealing performance can be restored by replacing the valve disc.

• Flow regulation ability
  • Gate valve: Usually used in fully open or fully closed states and not suitable for precise flow regulation. When partially opened, it is easily scoured by the fluid, affecting service life.
  • Globe valve: The fluid flow can be precisely controlled by the lifting of the valve disc and is suitable for occasions that require flow regulation.

• Opening and closing speed
  • Gate valve: The opening and closing speed is fast and the operation is relatively labor-saving. It is suitable for occasions that require quick opening and closing.
  • Globe valve: The opening and closing speed is slow and the operating torque is large, requiring a large operating force.

• Fluid direction
  • Gate valve: The fluid can flow in both directions. There is no need to consider the direction during installation.
  • Globe valve: The fluid flows in one direction. Pay attention to the direction during installation to prevent medium backflow.

  Application scenario comparison

• Gate valve
  • Applicable occasions: Suitable for large-diameter pipelines where quick opening and closing and low flow resistance are required, such as urban water supply and drainage pipelines, natural gas transmission pipelines, circulating water pipelines of thermal power plants, etc.
  

• Globe valve
  • Applicable occasions: Suitable for small-diameter pipelines where precise flow control or frequent opening and closing are required, such as boiler feed water pipelines, steam pipelines, laboratory instruments and meters, etc.