Among the many industrial valves, gate valves and butterfly valves are popular due to their unique performance and range of applications. Understanding their differences is critical to choosing the valve that best suits your project needs.
Gate valve controls the flow of fluid by moving the valve plate up and down, and its movement direction is perpendicular to the direction of the fluid. It is mainly used for fully open or fully closed operation and is not suitable for flow adjustment.
The main advantages of gate valves include:
Butterfly valves are popular for their simple structure, small size and light weight. It realizes quick opening and closing by rotating the butterfly plate 90°, and can also be used to adjust the flow rate.
The main advantages of butterfly valves include:
Gate valves: this valve is designed to start and stop the flow of water. It is named for the way that the stopper drops like a gate. The design offers little resistance, and fluid flows unimpeded through the valve. One last thing, gate valves can be set in any directional flow.
Butterfly valves: this valve is designed to start, stop, and regulate the flow of water. It’s named for the rotating disc that opens and closes the valve. Because you can partially open the valve, you can control the flow of water. One weakness is that it suffers from pressure drop.
In the case of gate valves, a tight shut-off is usually required. Because they can be sealed, they are suitable for leak-proof gas and oil pipelines, chemical plants and power plants. They are also better suited for slurries and viscous fluids because the gate design prevents them from clogging.
Butterfly valves, on the other hand, are often used when quick and frequent use is required. Because they are simple and slow down, they work well in HVAC systems, water treatment plants, and food processing. It is also better to use butterfly valves instead of gate valves in large diameter pipes because they are cheaper.
Understanding the key differences between these valves and considering the specific requirements of your application will help you choose between gate valves and butterfly valves.
When choosing a gate valve or a butterfly valve, you need to consider the following aspects: