What are the main components of a gate valve?
What is Gate Valve?
A gate valve is frequently employed in industrial settings to entirely limit flow or to fully allow flow while in the open position.
It accomplishes this by lowering or lifting the obturator from the seating area. As a result, it usually takes up more space than other types of valves & is not suitable for flow regulation.
This post discusses common gate valve components & gate valve assembly.
Components of Gate Valve
A gate valve’s basic components are the
- Body,
- Bonnet,
- Gate,
- Stem, and
- Seat.
Body
This is the valve’s main pressure-retaining section, which also houses other operational components such as the gate & seat.
Furthermore, it allows flow from the valve & is attached to the piping at both ends.
- Threaded,
- Flange,
- Butt weld,
- Compression fitting, &
- Tube fitting
are all options for connecting the body to the piping. Choosing the proper connection type is essential and is determined by the client’s demands, valve size, & operating pressure.
Bonnet
The bonnet is another pressure-retaining component that surrounds and protects a gate valve’s stem and wedge. Connects & disconnects from the body to allow for the repair (or) maintenance of interior components.
Seat
A gate valve contains two seats that contact with the gate to seal the valve. These seats are available as integral parts of the body (or) as seat rings. When the seat forms a portion of the body, they are built from the same material. In a ring structure, the seats are threaded or pressed into position before being welded to the valve body.
This approach allows for greater flexibility than integral seats and is the favored method in applications that require high temperatures.
Stem
When the valve is closed or opened, motion is transferred from the actuator to the gate via the forged shaft of the stem. A gate valve can have either a rising (or) non-rising stem.
How to Install Gate Valve Components?
While fitting a gate valve assembly, there are some essential measures to take to ensure that the components are safe and functioning. Many of these include:
- Prior to installation, inspect components which include the gate, seat, & valve material to verify they are defect-free.
- Ensure that the welding job is completed and that the weld area is free of residue & other debris. Also, make sure the flanges have cooled to room temperature before installing the necessary gaskets.
- Additionally, there should be no warpage (or) misalignment across the flange and gate valve. If the valve is large, additional structural support may be required to lessen the load on the pipe assembly.
- Modify the 2 flanges to leave enough space to slip the valve in (or) out for service, then carefully place the spacing bolts. This should be done so that the bottom of the valve sits on the bolts, preventing it from falling through.
- Tighten the bolts in stages to ensure a uniform pressure and appropriate seal between the flanges, valve, & gasket.
- In the end, lubricate & operate the valve several times to ensure the assembly’s stability.
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