To settle the gate valve vs globe valve debate, we opened a discussion with leading Scottish industrial valve retailer BM Engineering, which supplies and stores all valve types. They stated that the advantage of globe valves over gate valves is that ball valves are tightly sealed, which prevents leaks. This is due to their 100% shutdown characteristic.
They offer more resistance to fluid flow and high-pressure losses when the valve is opened. They are more expensive than sliders of a similar size but are worthwhile in situations where a throttle valve is needed.
One of the main advantages of Globe Valves is its ability to throttle and modulate the flow. It allows you to adjust or stop the flow. The main disadvantage of a ball valve is the significant head loss it causes. Whether closed or open, they are always open.
This combines the two sealing surfaces to ensure the best sealing performance. The so-called wedge serves as the part that opens and closes the slider. The wedge is moved vertically to stop the vertical flow. So when the wedge moves vertically, the valve is not used to regulate the flow.
It is easy to see the gate’s position by looking at the ascending shaft, which is the part of the gate valve. If the shaft rises and is visible, the door or valve is open, and if it is not visible, it is closed. Globe valves are sealed like gate valves. Operators must be careful not to rotate the valve shaft too much, which can damage the seating.
Gate valves vs. global valves, on the other hand, have a higher pressure drop under open conditions and offer considerable resistance to liquid flows. Spool valves can be used to control the ball valve, in addition to flow control. Spool valves are cheaper than ball valves. Due to their design, spool valves have few fluid inclusions, whereas ball valves have a large amount in both flow directions. A slider is unidirectional, in other words. They offer little resistance to fluid flow in the open position and lower pressure drop than a dropped valve.
The ball valve is a raven valve, which reduces the flow of water through the pipe by setting up a stationary ring or seat in a spherical body. The ball valve contains a spherical area separated by two half openings that form the seat.
A shut-off valve is not designed for flow control because it is an insulating medium. It cannot handle the strength of the medium and the flow in an open position. On the other hand, a ball valve is more of a control valve.
The spool valve provides a little pressure to drop obstacles that stand in the way of the fluid flow. The gate is actuated by the door disk, which moves to open the gate. If the door is closed, there is nothing that moves the pane down to hit the seat. Instead, it forms a wedge or knife parallel to everything else.
This valve is called a multi-rotary valve because it takes more than 360 degrees of rotation to open and close it. It is accompanied by a bonnet that rotates to control the position of the gate. When the opening gate is lifted, the valve returns to its original position and closes by itself.
This is due to the quick opening and closing of the ball valve, thereby hammering the water. Due to the pressure, ball valves and gate valves are suitable for low-pressure applications. However, the slider is better suited for high-pressure applications. Ball valves are best suited for the use of natural gas, where proper sealing is important in the long term. The sealing of ball valves provides a closer seal and more complete shut-off properties compared to gate valves.
Gate valves vs. global valves is a topic that can never be settled for real. But it just boils down to the usage and requirements.