Forged Steel Gate Valves: Parallel and Wedge Types
Forged Steel Gate Valves: Parallel and Wedge Types
Oct 15, 2024
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Forged steel gate valves are essential components in various piping systems due to their excellent sealing performance, high-temperature, and high-pressure resistance. They are a popular choice for fluid control. There are two main types of forged steel gate valves, classified by their sealing surface configurations: wedge gate valves and parallel gate valves. This article will explore the structural features, advantages and disadvantages, applicable scenarios, and working principles of these two types, helping users better understand their applications.
Parallel Forged Steel Gate Valves
In parallel forged steel gate valves, the sealing surfaces remain parallel to the vertical centerline, ensuring a tight seal between the valve body and the gate. The design and performance of this type of valve are highlighted in several key areas.
1. Structural Features
Double Gate Design: Most parallel forged steel gate valves feature a double gate structure. By inserting a double-sided thrust wedge between the two gates, the gates can tightly contact the valve body sealing surface when closed. This design helps distribute pressure and reduce localized wear.
Spring Assistance: Some parallel forged steel gate valves are equipped with springs between the two gates to provide additional preload. This design not only enhances sealing performance but also helps prevent seal failure due to prolonged use.
2. Sealing Performance
Wear Resistance: The sealing surfaces of parallel forged steel gates experience relatively less wear, making them suitable for medium- to low-pressure environments. This reduces maintenance and replacement frequency, thereby lowering operating costs.
Fluid Compatibility: These forged steel valves are suitable for various non-corrosive fluids, such as water, steam, and oil. They are particularly effective for low-pressure and small-diameter applications (DN40—300mm).
3. Application Scenarios
Parallel forged steel gate valves are commonly used in urban water supply, wastewater treatment, and chemical plants due to their simple structure and reliable sealing performance. They excel in low-flow systems, effectively controlling fluid movement.
Wedge Forged Steel Gate Valves
Wedge forged steel gate valves have sealing surfaces angled to the vertical centerline, forming a wedge shape. Their design features and applications are as follows.
1. Structural Features
Sealing Surface Angle: The sealing surface angles of wedge forged steel gate valves typically range from 2°52', 3°30', 5°, 8°, to 10°. The choice of angle primarily depends on the temperature of the medium. Generally, higher working temperatures require a larger sealing surface angle to reduce the wedging phenomenon caused by temperature changes.
Single and Double Gate Design: Wedge forged steel gate valves can be designed with either a single gate or a double gate. Single gate structures are simpler and more reliable but have stricter precision requirements for the sealing surface angle. In contrast, double gate designs, while more complex, are less likely to experience wedging under temperature variations.
2. Advantages and Disadvantages
In this part, we will mainly talked about the major advantages and disadvantages of wedge forged steel gate valves.
Advantages
High Temperature and Pressure Resistance: Wedge forged steel gate valves can operate stably at high temperatures and pressures, making them suitable for hot water, steam, and petrochemical applications.
Compensation Capability: In double gate designs, sealing surface wear can be compensated by adding gaskets, extending the valve's service life.
Disadvantages
Complex Structure: Compared to parallel forged steel gate valves, wedge valves have a more complex structure, leading to higher maintenance costs.
Prone to Sticking: In viscous media, double gate structures can easily stick, affecting normal operation and increasing maintenance frequency.
3. Application Scenarios
Wedge forged steel gate valves are widely used in industries such as petroleum, chemical, metallurgy, power generation, and water supply, especially in applications where fluid temperature and pressure have strict requirements. For instance, they are commonly used in the petrochemical industry to control high-temperature and high-pressure fluids, ensuring safe and stable system operation.
Selection and Application Recommendations
When choosing forged steel gate valves, users should make informed decisions based on specific operating conditions, medium characteristics, temperature, and pressure requirements. Here are some selection suggestions.
1. Low-Pressure Applications
For low-pressure, small-diameter fluid control, parallel forged steel gate valves are recommended due to their simple structure and ease of maintenance, making them suitable for non-corrosive media like water and steam.
2. High-Temperature and High-Pressure Applications
In environments with high-temperature and high-pressure fluids, wedge forged steel gate valves are advisable, particularly those with a double gate design, as they can effectively avoid wedging caused by temperature variations.
3. Fluid Characteristics
For viscous or sedimentary media, avoid using double gate wedge forged steel gate valves to reduce the risk of sticking and jamming.
Conclusion
The design and application of forged steel gate valves depend on different operational requirements. Parallel forged steel gate valves, with their parallel sealing structure, are ideal for low-pressure and small-diameter fluid control, ensuring excellent sealing. In contrast, wedge forged steel gate valves, with their unique wedge-shaped sealing design, can operate under higher temperatures and pressures, making them more versatile. By understanding these two types of forged steel gate valves in detail, users can select the appropriate valve for their specific needs, ensuring the efficient and safe operation of their piping systems.
Next: Manufacturing Process of Forged Valve Bodies
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