TYPES OF VALVES
DOE-HDBK-1018/2-93
Valves
Split Wedge
Figure 7 Split Wedge Gate Valve
Split wedge gate valves, as shown in Figure 7, are of the
ball and socket design. These are self-adjusting and self-
aligning to both seating surfaces. The disk is free to
adjust itself to the seating surface if one-half of the disk
is slightly out of alignment because of foreign matter
lodged between the disk half and the seat ring. This
type of wedge is suitable for handling noncondensing
gases and liquids at normal temperatures, particularly
corrosive liquids. Freedom of movement of the disk in
the carrier prevents binding even though the valve may
have been closed when hot and later contracted due to
cooling. This type of valve should be installed with the
stem in the vertical position.
Parallel Disk
The parallel disk gate valve illustrated in Figure 8 is
designed to prevent valve binding due to thermal
transients. This design is used in both low and high
pressure applications.
The wedge surfaces between the parallel face disk halves are caused to press together
under stem thrust and spread apart the disks to seal against the seats. The tapered
wedges may be part of the disk halves or they may be separate elements. The lower
wedge may bottom out on a rib at the valve bottom so that the stem can develop seating
force. In one version, the wedge contact surfaces are curved to keep the point of contact
close to the optimum.
In other parallel disk gates, the two halves do not move apart under wedge action.
Instead, the upstream pressure holds the downstream disk against the seat. A carrier ring
lifts the disks, and a spring or springs hold the disks apart and seated when there is no
upstream pressure.
Another parallel gate disk design provides for sealing only one port. In these designs,
the high pressure side pushes the disk open (relieving the disk) on the high pressure side,
but forces the disk closed on the low pressure side. With such designs, the amount of
seat leakage tends to decrease as differential pressure across the seat increases. These
valves will usually have a flow direction marking which will show which side is the high
pressure (relieving) side. Care should be taken to ensure that these valves are not
installed backwards in the system.
ME-04
Rev. 0
Page 12
