Gate Valves Vs Butterfly Valves
Gate valves and butterfly valves are two very commonly used valves. There are great differences between the two in their structure, usage methods, and adaptability to working conditions. This article will help users have a deeper understanding of the differences between gate valves and butterfly valves, to better help users make valve selections.
Before explaining the difference between gate valves and butterfly valves, let’s first look at their respective definitions. Perhaps from the definitions, you can carefully discover the difference between the two.
Overview of Gate Valves
Gate valve, as the name implies, can cut off the medium in the pipeline like a gate, and is a valve that we use in production and life. The opening and closing part of the gate valve is called the gate plate, which moves up and down, and its movement direction is perpendicular to the flow direction of the medium in the fluid pipeline; the gate valve is a shut-off valve that can only be fully opened or fully closed and cannot adjust the flow rate.
Overview of Butterfly Valves
Butterfly valve, also known as flap valve. Its opening and closing part is a disc-shaped butterfly plate, which is fixed on the valve stem and rotates around the valve stem valve axis to open and close. The movement direction of the butterfly valve is to rotate in place, and it only needs to rotate 90° from fully open to fully closed. In addition, the butterfly plate of the butterfly valve itself does not have the self-locking ability, and a turbine reducer needs to be installed on the valve stem. With it, the butterfly plate has the self-locking ability and can also improve the operating performance of the butterfly valve.
The difference between gate valve and butterfly valve
Difference in movement ability
Based on the above definition, we know the difference in movement direction and movement mode between gate valves and butterfly valves. In addition, because gate valves can only be fully opened and fully closed, the flow resistance of gate valves is smaller when they are fully opened; while the thickness of butterfly valves creates resistance to the circulating medium when they are fully opened. In addition, the opening height of gate valves is higher, so the opening and closing speed is slow; while butterfly valves can be opened and closed by rotating 90°, so they can be opened and closed quickly.
Difference in function and use
Gate valves have good sealing performance, so they are mostly used in pipelines that require strict sealing and do not need to be opened and closed frequently to cut off the circulating medium. Gate valves cannot be used to adjust flow. In addition, because gate valves have slow opening and closing speeds, they are not suitable for pipelines that need to be cut off urgently. The use of butterfly valves is relatively wider. Butterfly valves can not only be used for cutting off but also have the function of adjusting the size of the flow. In addition, butterfly valves open and close quickly, and can also be opened and closed frequently, which is especially suitable for use in occasions that require quick opening or cutting.
The butterfly valve is smaller in size and lighter in weight than the gate valve, so in some environments with limited installation space, it is recommended to use a more space-saving wafer-type butterfly valve. Among large-diameter valves, butterfly valves are the most commonly used, and butterfly valves are also recommended in pipelines that transport media containing small impurities.
In the selection of valves for many working conditions, butterfly valves have gradually replaced other types of valves and become the first choice for many users.
Price difference
For the same pressure and the same caliber, the price of gate valves is higher than that of butterfly valves. However, the caliber of butterfly valves can be very large, and the price of large-diameter butterfly valves is not cheaper than gate valves.
