5 Main Parts Of A Knife Gate Valve

Most of the time, a body of a knife gate valve is made from industrial grade stainless steel since this mechanism receives a lot of beating and has to withstand the elements, especially if it is exposed outside.

There are a lot of valves that can be used for different applications. Some may be complicated mechanisms like check valves and some may just be simple like a gate valve. A knife gate valve may just be a simple piece of mechanism with a gate that goes up and down by turning its hand wheel or through an electric motor. However, it is best to know what the main parts of the valve are to help out in the maintenance and repair of the gate valve.

1. Gate

This is one of the main parts of this type of gate valve. This is responsible for stopping any fluids or gasses from flowing through once the valve is closed and generally, this is the part that receives the most battering and stress, apart from the exposed parts. The gate is almost always made of cast stainless steel to withstand corrosion and prolong the life of the valve.

2. Body

Most of the time, a body of a knife gate valve is made from industrial grade stainless steel since this mechanism receives a lot of beating and has to withstand the elements, especially if it is exposed outside. Stainless steel also takes a long time before it could experience corrosion and fatigue. Also, it makes the device lighter than brass or steel valves.

3. Valve seat

This part is the notch where the gate sits when the valve is closed. The seats are mostly made from stainless steel as well to withstand and resist corrosion. Some companies have produced the valve seats sometimes with PVC or plastic, mostly utilized by the smaller units. Some seats are also designed so that any sediments or debris would not be lodged in it. This is also one of the parts to watch out for with this kind of valve since if it accumulates too much debris, the gate would not close and seal properly and cause the material to leak through.

4. Stem

This is basically the shaft of the mechanism. This is where the gate is attached and in turn, connected to the hand wheel. The stem is threaded so when the wheel is turned, it will enable the gate to raise or lower. This is also made of stainless steel to save weight and to also resist and withstand corrosion.

5. Hand wheel

The hand wheel is where the knife gate valve is operated. By turning it, it enables the gate to raise or lower. This can also be replaced with an electric motor or via hydraulic operation to make the gate valve open and close remotely.

These are the main parts of the valve. There are also a lot of companies that make these valves utilizing different materials and even offer replacement parts in the event that some parts would fail due to prolonged use and stress. To look for the best valve for your application, simply check the best knife gate valve review to help out in looking for the best supplier or manufacturer of these valves. This valve may be a small mechanism compared to the other devices attached to the pipeline but with its role, it can guarantee the smooth operation and flow of any fluids that pass through it.