A very crucial point is that gate valves should not be used as flow regulators or throttling valves. 

Reason 1: Vulnerability to damage: When the gate valve is in a half-open position, the high-speed flow will continuously wash and erode the sealing surfaces of the gate plate and the valve seat, resulting in the failure of the seal and significantly shortening the service life of the valve. 

Reason 2: Instability: When partially opened, the gate plate may vibrate due to fluid impact, resulting in unstable operation and noise. 

Although in some non-core, old or specific systems (such as certain household plumbing systems), the practice of regulating flow using gate valves is observed, this is an unstandardized operation that can damage the valves. 

Highlight the advantages 

The gate valve is widely used in the industrial field due to the following remarkable features: 

Low fluid resistance: When fully open, the flow channel is in a straight line shape. When the medium flows through, there is almost no obstruction and the pressure drop is extremely small. 

Sealing performance is reliable: When closed, the gate plate forms a large-area contact seal with the valve seat, enabling a reliable cut-off and maintaining good sealing performance. 

The medium flow is unrestricted: The structural design enables the medium to flow in from either end of the valve, eliminating the need to consider the flow direction during installation. 

Wide application range: By choosing different materials (such as carbon steel, stainless steel, brass, etc.), it can adapt to various working conditions including water, steam, oil products, and corrosive media. 

Core function

Cut off the fluid (the main function) 

This is the fundamental function of the gate valve. When the gate plate is fully lowered, it will closely fit with the valve seat, forming an effective seal, thereby completely blocking the flow of the medium in the pipeline. This feature makes it an ideal isolation device in the pipeline system, and is often used to cut off the medium during equipment maintenance or emergency situations. 

Connected fluid 

When the gate plate is fully lifted into the valve body, the fluid passage is completely opened. At this point, a direct flow channel is formed inside the gate valve, with minimal resistance to the flow of the fluid and very low pressure loss. This ensures that the medium can flow smoothly and efficiently when it needs to be circulated.