Advantages
Gate Valves
- Opening and closing are slow, so they can’t cause a water hammer. For this reason, some organizations require the valve nearest to the water meter to be a gate valve.
- Brass gate valves are highly durable and work well in applications where corrosion is a serious concern.
- This material tolerates high temperatures well, so it is commonly used in manufacturing applications.
Ball Valves
- They are not only easy to turn on and off quickly but also allow the user to tell at a glance if the valve is open or not.
- They are durable, rarely freeze even with years of use, provide reliable service, and are extremely versatile.
- Brass ball valves are great for manufacturing needs and hot water applications, because of resistant to high temperatures.
Disadvantages
Gate valves
The screw mechanism that opens and closes the valve can easily fall victim to corrosion and become not working properly. They should be fully opened or fully closed in using, but some models may be stuck in partially open or partially closed position. That causes vibration of the gate, which can damage the valve. Besides that, gate valves don’t provide a visual clue to the “on” or “off” position.
Ball valves
Ball valves require more space. In tight applications, you may not have 90 degrees to turn the valve’s handle. Also, in rare instances, a ball valve can create a water hammer condition.
Application
Gate valves are commonly found in the oil and gas industry, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, automotive, manufacturing and marine applications. They can be used in high pressure and high-temperature environments. Also, they are sometimes found in home plumbing systems.
Ball valves are used in home plumbing, industrial applications, oil and gas applications, marine applications, pharmaceuticals, and many other fields.