Operating principle of gate valve

Gate valves are commonly used in fluid control systems to regulate the flow of liquid or gas through pipes. The operating principle of a gate valve is quite simple: when the valve is open, a gate (also known as a wedge) is raised or lowered within the valve body to allow fluid to pass through. When the valve is closed, the gate is lowered to completely obstruct the flow of fluid.

Gate valves typically consist of a valve body, a gate (wedge), and an actuator to move the gate. The gate is usually designed to fit tightly into the valve body to prevent any fluid from leaking around the gate when the valve is closed.

The actuator is typically a handwheel or lever that rotates a threaded stem connected to the gate. When the handwheel is turned, the stem rotates, causing the gate to move up or down within the valve body. This movement allows the valve to be opened or closed as needed.

One advantage of gate valves is that they can be fully opened or closed quickly, which makes them useful for applications where the flow of fluid needs to be shut off completely. However, gate valves may not be suitable for regulating flow since they are designed for on/off applications rather than precise flow control.