What is a Gate Valve?

Gate valves are typically used in applications where the flow of the fluid needs to be completely shut off or fully opened, rather than controlled with partial flow adjustments. These valves are often used in industrial, commercial, residential, oil and gas, water treatment, and chemical processing. The gate valve gets its name from the disc that raises and lowers to open and close the flow. The wedge gate valve is the most common design. The main advantages of gate valves are bi-directional and a very low-pressure drop. The main disadvantage is their limited ability to control the flow since throttling may damage the valve.