What is Better? Ball Valve vs Gate Valve vs Seat Valve
Hello everyone, in this article, we are going to explore the water retaining armature used in domestic water supply and heating. Let’s try to figure out which faucet is the most suitable for which to go as well as consider the pros and cons. Under the concept of shutoff valves fall a large list of devices. Intended for overlapping media and in our case water. Faucets located in the bathrooms and valves of the flush tank of the toilets are also a lock armature. But they are not the topic of today’s discussion. Taps and valves used in the domestic water supply are. Let’s consider these types of devices in ascending order by the popularity of usage. Including Ball Valve, Gate Valve, and Seat Valve.
In everyday life, when designing a home water supply system. Many of us wonder which faucet is better? It is impossible to answer this question. In immediately it is possible to say what is the best option needed in a particular wiring diagram. Since the same device may be the most appropriate in a particular location of the water supply unit. The other one there does not comply with its parameters and specifics. Taps can have different types of locking. A long time before the appearance of the well-known ball valve in domestic water supply valves and check valves were used.
Ball Valve
This type of shut-off valve has recently become a sensation compared to the other types although the idea itself is far from new. It’s present for more than 100 years only with the advent of modern seals. Such as the PTFE Teflon ball valve was able to become competitive and quickly took its niche among stock valves. The ball valve is a device inside which there is the locking element. In the shape of a ball with a passageway. The ball in turn is connected to a handle or lever via a rode. This is how the opening of the ball valve happens when you turn the handle. Inside of the case occurs rotation of the ball. The resulting passage rate located in the ball opens the way from the environment.
Ball valves can be full pass and reduced standard pass. Their difference is that a full pass valve has a passageway in the ball equal to the inner diameter of a connected water pipe. This excludes hydraulic resistance in this section reduced to have a reduced pass through the hole in the ball. That concerning the inner diameter of the connected water pipe such steps are used. Where the increase in hydraulic pressure is not particularly critical. The ball valve is used everywhere in the water supply heating and even gas supply. In the household water supply, the ball valve pushed his older brother the gate valve. The valve as in previous devices let’s look at the pros and cons of the ball valve. Probably the first glass of such fitting is its versatility since the sphere of its usage is very wide. There is a huge number of modifications to the ball valve.
Advantages of Ball Valve
There are ball valves with internal and external threads there are ready-made water solutions with spout and fitting and quick connection ball valves give the possibility of fast connection corner 3-way and even with a built-in filter it is impossible not to take into account the reliability and durability of the design some models can be functional up to 50 years an average time between failures is about 25,000 open/closed cycles.
Another advantage of the ball valve is that it has small dimensions. They are a small construction length and height. This allows it to be widely use in conditions with short space. Undoubtedly was important is the fast opening-closing time of the device in comparison to a gate valve or a ball valve. It has the advantage of the ability to block the flow of quick water return so from opening to closing you only need to make a 90 degrees turn. For all its undeniable advantages.
Disadvantages of Ball Valve
The ball valve has limitations and disadvantages that are necessary to take into account when designing and installing water pipes. One of the biggest disadvantages of a ball valve is its limitations in its usage since this device is only a stop valve and doesn’t have flow adjustment options. Using such a tab for adjustment is incorrect since the ball is not fully rotating in the device housing it allows damage and trash to clog under the seal. Which may lead to further loss of tightness and failure of the valve itself.
It is also important to consider operating a ball valve in the conditions of negative temperature you should always remember that even in a dehydrated system in the ball valve between the ball and the body can remain moisture relatives. Low temperatures can expand and break the valve body. So that in principle doesn’t surround them dehydrated valves another disadvantage is that most ball valves are not collapsible structure and therefore when damaged must be completely replaced.
It is difficult to say whether this can be call a minus but the ball valve as well requires periodic opening and closing use. The fact that for a long time rest on the surface of the ball and in space seals can deposite between the ball and the body make a further obstacle to the normal rotation of the ball and in some cases even damaged use and yet with all these disadvantages, the ball valve occupies a leading position in terms of use in household needs and in particular in the hot water supply.
Gate Valve
The gate valve is a device in which when the flywheel is turned a pass-through hole for the liquid is blocked by a perpendicularly located shutter. This type of stop valve is still widely using in public utilities and in various enterprises. Where it is necessary to overlap and adjust flows in pipes with large bore diameters and here in everyday life it use much less pump.
The average service life of this locking device depending on the design features can vary from 10 to 20 years and the average operating time of the product to failure from 2 to 3 thousand cycles. Often there are disputes about the valves. Some claim that the gate valves are equally good as for shutting off and ask for adjustment purposes, others say that the device with a valve must be either completely open or completely closed all the time because if the shutter stays closed for a long time valves in the middle state may close locking elements of the valve to rapid were.
Perhaps such assumptions are not without means, after all, will use and evolve in pipelines with increased content of abrasive substances sand or rust increases the likelihood of accelerated wear of the mating parts, and in consequence sinks and scratches might appear which can lead to a reduction in the amazing tightness of the locking unit. In this case, the exception is a valve with a rubberized shutter but they are only available for pipes with a large diameter and valves for household needs with a pass-through diameter from 0 5 to 1 they usually have a gate made of brass. However, in most technical descriptions of the valves available on our market, they still say about this product as a shut-off and regulating system armature.
Advantages of Gate Valve
In any case, valves have both their advantages and disadvantages. However our noticeable when using valves in everyday life that the main advantage of the gate valve is small hydraulic resistance due to the fact that most products are full pass that is the diameter at the point of the locking device itself is not narrow and the passage in the tab is straight and does not create additional swirls. Another advantage of such a valve is the small construction length of the device and its maintainability.
Disadvantages of Gate Valve
The weak point of the valve is the loss of tightness of the locking mechanism due to wear or more often contamination of the seat or gate which is the most cases due to it being treated by cleaning the saddle surfaces another weak point is a possible leak from under a road which can be removed either by tightening hermetic seal nut or by replacement of the gasket if of course, you find it on sale also the disadvantage of such a valve is that it has a large construction height which may affect its installation in tight places with limited space.
Another disadvantage of this device is that many do not like the fact that it takes a long time for the gate valve to fully close or open. Because you have to make several full turns of the flywheel loss of interest in the locking device. When using it for household purpose is due to a limited range of these products. Which presents in retail only by a few manufacturers.
The valve is probably a kind of mom in modern times among the locking devices and the existing disadvantages neutralized all its advantages when it used in everyday life however in no way related to the use of pulps food industry utilities and other areas where you need to overlap different environments in pipes with large diameters and where these devices allocated they’re simply irreplaceable.
Seat Valve
The seat valve in its appearance is very similar to a gate valve. The principle of operation of the valve is quite simple. When the rotation of the flywheel transmits to the spindle located in the device case and has an oil seal due to worm gear, forward displacement of the spindle. Whereat the other end, the locking spoon place by a gasket. If the valve is close, the spool reaches the lowest position and rests on the seat thanks to that happens a harmonic error lab of the flow of liquid or another environment.
Hence the name of the locking device itself stops the valve. Shut off valves are widely utilize in water and heating systems. One more important they are close and regulating devices. They can have different appearances and designs average full-service life of valves. Depending on design features and operational conditions is from 20 to 30 years and the time to failure is about 8,000 cycles open close. Valves also have their advantages and disadvantages.
The Advantages of Seat Valve
The valve can smooth flow adjustments and in most cases is maintainable and when it’s repaired the most common option is replacement spool gaskets or replacement the tightening of the oil seal gasket. The valve has less friction and its parts are located in the production environment and respectively it has a large resource compared to the same valve.
The Drawbacks of Seat Valve
The main drawback of the seat valve is increased hydraulic resistance. Which has to do with the design of the valve this design increases. The probability of the formation of stagnant zones in which they can accumulate impurities. That contributes to the corrosion process in the housing of the product with a small exception to the rules. You can probably name direct flow valves that have an inclined location of the spindle. Which achieves less hydraulic resistance. Due to the expanded location of the seat about the flow valves can have a certain orientation. Regarding the flow movement which must place into account. When installing them also when operating the valve. There is the probability of separation in case of sticking or shrinking spool gaskets. Which leads to loss of sealing and the need for repairs.
This situation may occur in cases of the long-term position of the valve is close or open position state. As well as when composing a system with a valve on a long time without a working environment. This is why many experienced plumbers when installing valves. He advises you at least once a year to make a complete closure and opening of the valve. In any case, it’s not possible to do in some situations without evolution. For example in the collector system, thanks to the vents located. In the collector comp and smooth adjustments of flow to individual water. Collection points or adjustments of the world water system floor can create and for example. A thermal valve located in the heating system helps to regulate the flow of coolant in the heating radiator.
Conclusion
Therefore making a choice in favor of one of another shutoff device during design and installation of home water supply. You must base your decision on the required functionality and features themselves. Help heuristics of locking devices since some for example ball valves are the ideal shuttle valves. While others won’t them are capable of making smooth flow adjustments that’s it.
