Gate valves have one major advantage over ball valves. There is always a comparison between the gate valve and the globe valve. Down below are the characteristics of two popular valve types: Gate valves vs. Ball valves Globe valves benefit controling circulation, whereas ball valves are much better for on/off control without stress drop. However, gate valves have disadvantages as well. Ball Valves. Also called “shut off valves,"ball valves are the only way to immediately shut off the flow of water. Ball valves are superior to gate valves for many reasons. Gate valves and ball valves are two distinct members of the valve family, and are generally used for two different types of flow control. Globe valves can be used to start, stop, and regulate flow. In this article, BM Engineering Supplies explores the merits of ball valves versus globe valves. Because the opening and closing mechanism is slow, they can't cause a water hammer. Globe valves are generally used to stop, start, and regulate flow within a pipe. They’re made with a spherical body and a disc. I use Globes Valves for throttling (control). Just one reason why a gate valve is more likely to leak is because it is manufactured in a way that has more channels for a potential leak. They come in many types, sizes, materials, pressure and temperature ratings, and means of actuation. Valves are important components of a piping system because their operation could impact the entire network. Gate valves are incapable of immediate redirection. For this reason, some municipalities require the valve nearest to the water meter to be a gate valve. Gate valves have one major advantage over ball valves. A globe valve has a near linear characteristics of Cv vs. % open, while a gate valve has a severe parabolic characteristic and thus cannot be used for throttling. Ball valves have a stem and ball, which turns horizontally, and are commonly referred to as “rotational” valves. Globe Valve vs Gate ValveGlobe valves vs gate valves are designed for many applications in several fields, including the oil and gas industry. These valves are often in top-entry design, meaning, access to the internal components of the valve is from the top. A globe valve uses a plug (stem) that shuts versus the circulation, and also a ball shutoff has a gate (ball) that shuts across the flow. Globe Valve Basics. If you try to open against a high DP, the seat will score and leak. Leakage from the globe valve seat is less as compared to the gate valve, mainly due to right angle contact between the disc and seat ring, which allows tighter seal between seat the disk. Globe valves are generally used to stop, start, and regulate flow within a pipe. Globe Valve Diagram. The external housing (shell) of gate and globe valves are similar, but the globe valve is designed to serve as a regulating valve, meaning that it can adjust the … However, I always install a gate valve upstream of the globe for positive shutoff because the globe valves do not tend to hold tight. The image also shows flow direction. Globe valves are good for regulating flow, whereas ball valves are better for on/off control without pressure drop.