With so many different types of valves on the market today, it can be difficult to decide which valve is best for your application. In this article, Didtek discusses the advantages of ball valves versus gate valves.

Choosing the right valve can better protect and use your pipeline. Both ball and gate valves are designed to restrict and control flow. Which one can provide better longevity and leak resistance? Read on to find out.

 

What Is The Main Difference Between Ball Valve And Gate Valve?

Ball valves and gate valves basically perform the same function. However, their structural qualities differ significantly. Ball valves have a stem and a ball that turns horizontally and are often called "swivel" valves. They are best suited for applications requiring on/off control without voltage drop.

Gate valves are opened by opening and closing the gate fluid path. The sealing surface between the gate and seat is planar, so gate valves are typically used when straight fluid flow and minimal restriction are required.

 

How Does A Ball Valve Work?

Ball valves are designed with a ball inside the valve. A ball valve is a form of quarter-turn valve that uses a hollow, perforated, and rotating ball (called a "floating ball") to control flow through it. It opens when the ball's bore is in line with flow and closes when it is turned 90 degrees by the stem. The handle lays flat to align with the flow of water when open and perpendicular to the flow of water when closed for easy visual confirmation of valve status. 

 

How Does A Gate Valve Work?

Gate valves have a flat gate closure that slides in and out or up and down between two parallel plates to open or close the valve. They are used for shutting down, not for flow regulation, as they only have two settings: on and off. Due to their design, gate valves are more prone to corrosion, which can lead to leaks, plugging and downtime. 

 

WhichIs Better, Ball Valve Or Gate Valve

Ball valves are durable, performing well after many cycles, and reliable, closing securely even after long periods of disuse. These qualities make them an excellent choice for shutoff applications, where they are often preferred to gates and globe valves. That said, they do lack fine control in throttling applications. 

Although ball valves tend to cost slightly more than gate valves of comparable quality, the minimal saving is not worth the potential issues that are likely to follow. Moreover, ball valves seal much tighter – and are therefore much less prone to leaks – than gate valves because of their 100 per cent shut off characteristics.

Ball valves offer greater longevity, a lower rate of failure, and are easier to use than gate valves.