What is the main purpose of a gate valve?

The main purpose of a gate valve is to completely stop or start fluid flow. This design allows for a straight-line flow of fluid with minimal turbulence and pressure drop when the valve is fully opened. Gate valves are typically used in applications where the valve remains either fully open or fully closed, such as in water supply systems or gas pipelines, rather than for regulating flow or controlling pressure, which are functions better suited to other types of valves, like globe or pressure-reducing valves.

While gate valves can be manually operated to close and open, their construction—featuring a wedge or gate that moves perpendicular to the flow—allows for a very effective seal when closed, preventing backflow. This characteristic makes them less ideal for applications that require precise flow regulation, pressure control, or filtration, as they are not designed for throttling (regulating flow) and do not have mechanisms for filtering out particles in the fluid.