Gate valves and butterfly valves can open or close pipelines. Of course, there are still methods in the selection process of butterfly valves and gate valves. To reduce the depth of soil cover in the water supply pipeline, butterfly valves are generally selected for larger diameter pipelines. If the impact on the depth of soil cover is not significant, it is recommended to choose gate valves.

Difference
According to the function and purpose of gate and butterfly valves, gate valves have small flow resistance and good sealing performance. Because the direction of flow between the gate valve plate and the medium is vertical, if the gate valve is not opened and closed well on the valve plate, the scouring of the medium on the valve plate will cause the valve plate to vibrate, which can easily cause damage to the gate valve seal. A butterfly valve is a type of valve with a simple structure that can be used for opening or closing low-pressure pipeline media. Butterfly valves refer to a type of valve in which the closing element is a disc that rotates around the valve axis to achieve opening and closing. The valve can be used to control the flow of various types of fluids such as air, water, steam, various corrosive media, mud, oil, liquid metal, and radioactive media, mainly used for cutting and throttling on pipelines. A gate valve is a gate with an opening and closing element. The direction of movement of the gate is perpendicular to the direction of the fluid, and the gate valve can only be fully opened and fully closed. Most gate valves use forced sealing, which means that when the valve is closed, external force is used to forcefully press the gate plate against the valve seat to ensure that the sealing surface is sealed.

Applications
Butterfly valves
It is easy to install due to its small volume, easy to achieve automatic control due to its small opening stroke, suitable for various liquids including mud, and metal. The main valve plate and opening handle are connected as one, making it difficult to fail and closing tightly.

Gate valves
Compared to butterfly valves, a gate valve has a larger volume, slower opening speed, and larger stroke, making it difficult to achieve automatic control. It has a smaller range of use, and the main valve plate and opening handle are easily detached, causing valve failure. It is used for installation with large pipe diameters and is classified into low, medium, and high pressure valves according to pressure, with strict closure.