Gate Valves for Industrial and Commercial Use
Gate valves are critical components for controlling fluid flow in many different types of applications. Their primary function is to provide an on/off service, meaning they are designed to be either fully open or fully closed, rather than for throttling or regulating flow.
At Williams Valve, we are experts in our field. We’ve been a leader in design, manufacturing, and modification for industrial valves for over 100 years. Let us be your reliable partner for all your gate valve supply and service needs.
Primary Applications for Gate Valves
These valves are critical to many industrial and commercial processes, such as:
- Oil and Gas Industry: Crucial for pipeline shutoff and flow control in refineries, processing plants, and offshore drilling operations as they can withstand high pressures and are suitable for crude oil, natural gas, and refined products.
- Chemical Processing: Often constructed from corrosion-resistant materials to handle aggressive or hazardous chemicals safely, providing vital isolation in the event of leaks or spills.
- Power Generation: Used in power plants for high-temperature steam lines and cooling water systems to provide safe fluid control in boilers, turbines, and condensers.
- Marine and Shipbuilding: Essential for managing fluids in confined, high-pressure environments aboard ships, such as in ballast systems and fuel lines.
- Wastewater Treatment: Installed in sewage and stormwater systems for managing sludge and treated water, preventing backflow and controlling flow during peak events.
Cast Steel Drawings
Forged Steel Drawings
Stainless Steel Drawings
Bronze Drawings
Is a Gate Valve Right for Your Operation?
When it comes to controlling fluid flow, gate valves are a common choice, but they aren’t right for every situation. This guide will help you understand if a gate valve is the best fit for your specific operational needs.
- Excellent Shut-off Capability: When fully closed, they provide a tight, reliable seal, preventing leakage.
- Minimal Flow Resistance: When fully open, the clear bore allows for maximum flow rate with very little pressure drop.
- Bi-directional Flow: Can typically handle flow in both directions.
- Durability: Their robust construction often leads to a long service life, especially when made from appropriate materials.
- Cost-Effective (for certain sizes): For some applications, gate valves can be more economical than other valve types of similar size and rating.
- Not for Throttling: Gate valves are not suitable for regulating or throttling flow. Using them in a partially open position can lead to excessive wear and erosion of the gate and seat, causing leakage and premature failure.
- Slow Operation: The multi-turn operation can be a drawback in applications requiring quick opening or closing.
- Large Size: Especially for larger diameters, gate valves can be bulky and require more installation space.
- Vulnerability to Damage: The gate and seat surfaces can be susceptible to damage from slurries or foreign particles if the valve is used for throttling or in dirty service.
- Risk of Water Hammer: While their slow closing can prevent water hammer in some cases, rapid closure of large gate valves can still induce it.
Our Gate Valve Designs and Materials
Gate valves operate by lifting a “gate” or wedge-shaped disc out of the path of the fluid flow. When fully open, the gate is completely retracted, allowing for minimal flow resistance and a full bore flow, which helps reduce pressure drop. When fully closed, the gate seats firmly against the valve body, creating a tight seal that prevents leakage and backflow. Most gate valves are designed to allow flow in either direction, making them versatile for various piping configurations.
Due to the linear motion of the gate, gate valves typically require multiple turns of the handwheel to open or close, resulting in a slower operation compared to quarter-turn valves like ball or butterfly valves. This slow operation can be an advantage in some cases, as it helps prevent water hammer.
Gate valves generally have a relatively simple construction with fewer moving parts than some other valve types, which can contribute to their reliability and ease of maintenance. Our gate valve design can include:
- Full Port or Standard Port
- Outside Screw and Yoke (OS&Y)
- Two Piece Self-Aligning Packing Gland
- Integral Backseat
- Socket Weld Ends to ASME B16.11
- Screwed Ends (NPT) to ANSI/ASME B1.20.1
- Bonnet
Bonnet Designs
Bolted Bonnet
- Male-female joint
- Spiral wound gasket
- Made of F304L/graphite
- Ring joint gasket available on request
Welded Bonnet
- Threaded and seal welded joint
- Full penetration welded joint available on request
Pressure Seal Bonnet
- Threaded and pressure seal bonnet joint
Body Materials
The choice of material for your gate valve depends heavily on the fluid being handled, temperature, pressure, and environmental conditions.
- Carbon Steel: Good for high-pressure and high-temperature applications in oil, gas, and chemical industries.
- Stainless Steel (304, 316): Provides excellent corrosion resistance, making it ideal for applications involving corrosive media.
- Alloy Steels: Used for very high-temperature or corrosive applications, often with specialized trims for specific fluid properties.
- Brass: Commonly used for valves in low-pressure applications and saltwater environments due to good corrosion resistance.
Design and Manufacturing Compliance
Our gate valves conform to:
- API 602 – Gate, Globe, and Check Valves for Sizes DN 100 (NPS 4) and Smaller
- BS 5352 – Steel Wedge Gate, Globe and Check Valves of Nominal Sizes 50 and Smaller
- ASME B 16.34 – Valves—Flanged, Threaded, and Welding End
- API 598 – Valve Inspection and Testing
- MSS SP-25 – Standard Marking System for Valves, Fittings, Flanges, and Unions
Types of Gate Valves Available
- Cast Steel Bolted Bonnet Gate (Non-Rising Stem) 150lb & 300lb
- Cast Steel Bolted Bonnet Gate (Rising Stem) 150lb – 2500lb
- Forged Steel Welded Bonnet Wedge Gate
- Forged Steel Gate 800lb & 1500lb
- Forged Steel Flanged Bolted Bonnet Gate 150lb, 300lb, & 600lb
- Stainless Steel Flanged Cryogenic Gate 150lb, 300lb, & 600lb
- Stainless Steel NRS Gate 200lb WOG
- Stainless Steel Gate 200lb WOG
- Stainless Steel Flanged Gate 150lb, 300lb, & 600lb
- Bolted Bonnet Wedge Gate
- Corrosion Resistant Bolted Bonnet Wedge Gate
- API-6D Through Conduit Gate
- Cast Steel API-6D Pipeline Expanding Gate 300lb – 1500lb
- Cast Steel API-6D Pipeline Slab Gate 150lb – 1500lb
- Pressure Seal Bonnet Wedge Gate & Parallel Slide Gate
- Cryogenic Cast Steel Bolted Bonnet Wedge Gate
- Cryogenic Forged Steel Bolted Bonnet Wedge Gate
- Cast Steel Marine Wedge Gate ABS Type Approved
- Bronze Marine Wedge Gate ABS Type Approved
- Mil-Spec Wedge Gate
Gate Types – Quick Overview
- Rising Stem Gate Valves (OS&Y – Outside Screw and Yoke): The stem rises visibly when the valve is opened, providing a clear visual indication of the valve’s position. This is common in applications where quick visual confirmation is important.
- Non-Rising Stem Gate Valves: The stem does not move upward; instead, the gate is threaded to the stem and moves vertically within the valve body. This design is preferred in applications with limited overhead space or where the stem needs protection from contaminants (e.g., buried pipelines).
- Wedge Gate Valves: These are the most common type, featuring a wedge-shaped disc that fits tightly between two inclined seats.
- Parallel Slide Gate Valves: Contains two parallel gates that slide between two parallel seats. Often used in high-temperature applications where thermal binding is a concern.
- Pressure-Seal Gate Valves: Employs internal pressure to create a tighter seal, making them suitable for extremely high-pressure systems such as power plants and petrochemical facilities.
Industrial Gate Valve Supply and Service
Choose Williams Valve for reliable gate valve solutions. We provide industrial valves that meet your toughest demands. Get expert service for your critical operations—contact us today.
