Gate Valves vs Globe Valves in Saudi Arabia: Industrial Selection Guide

Valves must be installed at a pipeline isolation point. There must be a valve in a steam control loop. A procurement person reads the spec sheet and sees both options on the spec sheet. Which valve type – gate valve or globe valve? Their exteriors are more or less alike. The gap in price is not too big. So, which one shall you pick?

I have seen this decision being implemented in Saudi industrial plants from Jubail to Yanbu. Failure due to the wrong choice results in premature failure, inefficiency of the process, or a safety incident occurring months after the commissioning. The right choice? No problem with that valve for years.

For any application involving oil and gas, petrochemical or desalination, you are already familiar with the basic functions of the two types of valves: gate valves vs globe valves. What you have to have is a clear engineering-level model for choosing when to use what.

So let me guide you through, what matters in the Saudi Industrial Environments.

The Fundamental Difference

People usually don't understand the difference between gate valve and globe valve. They believe it's all about the money or the brand. It is not. It's all about what the valve was supposed to do.

The gate valve is designed to act as a flow stopper or flow permitter. Completely open or completely closed. No in-between. The gate moves at right angles to the flow. When fully open, there is no obstruction in the pipe. Flow path is straight. There is no significant drop in pressure.

The other type of valve used for globe is to control flow. The seat is stationary while the internal disc oscillates up and down. The valve changes the direction of the flow. This direction change makes resistance. The resistance provides you with control. Flow can be precisely controlled by adjusting the position of the disc.

How Each Valve Works

Gate Valve Operation

A gate valve works by moving a gate across the valve body that is perpendicular to the flow. As you turn the handle, the gate moves up or down on a threaded stem. If the gate is against the opposite wall, no water will flow.

There are two different stem designs for gate valve. A rising stem gate valve has the stem rising up when the valve is opened — it is easy to tell if it is open or closed. A non-rising stem gate valve has the stem in the same position, which is beneficial where there is limited vertical space, like underground pipelines.

Gate valves are widely specified in the Saudi oil and gas industry for pipeline isolation purposes since they offer a low-pressure loss and completely block flow. The valve can be fully opened and a pipe-cleaning pig can even be inserted through the valve — a vital tool for pipeline maintenance in Saudi Aramco's transmission network.

Globe Valve Operation

A globe valve will contain a disc which slides up and down against a fixed seat. The name of valve comes from the shape of the valve body (globular), although other valves may have a similar body - it is the interior structure that determines the type of valve.

A globe valve changes the direction of the flow path in a valve. The fluid is swallowed and has to get around the disc and seat. This directionality gives rise to resistance, which is desirable when precise control of flow is required.

Globe valves are commonly used in throttling service in the industry because the disc has a very fine stroke. Desire to be able to match the feed water flow with the evaporation rate? Globe valve. Need to control steam pressure in a process line? Globe valve.

Key Differences at a Glance

Pressure Drop and Flow Behaviour

Gate valves have minimal pressure loss when opened. The valve bonnet fully retracts the gate and there is no obstruction in the flow path. For pipelines where pressure has to be kept, that's why the industry would prefer to use gate valves.

Globe valves cause greater pressure loss because of the change in flow direction. Study indicates that the pressure drop through a globe valve can be up to 73% of the inlet pressure when the valve is open 20%. This pressure drop isn't a design defect; it's the part that allows flow control. Throttling is the result of the resistance.

This is a handy guide for oil and gas valve selection Saudi Arabia. Use a gate valve if you have to isolate a line where there is little pressure loss. For flow control and when a pressure drop is tolerable, consider a globe valve.

Why This Matters in Saudi Industrial Conditions

The industrial sector is booming in Saudi Arabia. In 2024, industrial valves market was valued at USD 3.88 billion and is expected to achieve a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period up to 2030 to reach USD 5.40 billion by 2030. Petrochemicals and mining investments as well as manufacturing and water infrastructure investments are underway as a result of economic diversification under Vision 2030.

This expansion is accompanied by the building of more pipelines, more refineries, more desalination plants. Which translates to more valves.

Saudi environment is challenging. Excessive heat, sand and dust, and corrosive environment. These are all factors that you need to consider when choosing your valve. Underground pipeline installations subject to limited space and access for inspection favour gate valves with non-rising stems. The thermal cycling requirement of Globe valves used for steam systems requires the maintenance of the integrity of the valve seat.

Saudi Aramco Standards and Compliance

Saudi Aramco standards are not negotiable for projects in Saudi Arabia. They are mandatory.

Saudi Aramco has a well-defined set of internal standards for valve design, service, material selection, testing and inspection. These codes identify requirements according to the pressure, temperature, fluid and risk factors.

There are a number of requirements specific to Aramco:

• Gas flare systems: Gate, ball or triple offset butterfly valves must be used only

• Pig trap main valves: Must be DIB-2 seat configuration, through-conduit gate or ball valves

• Subsea valves: 300 minimum, Ball design, Ring joint connection

• Trim material for pig trap valves: Duplex Stainless Steel with overlaid Inconel 625 Seat Pockets.

• Gate valves installed in horizontal orientation: Only for clean service or utility applications to avoid blockage (gate valves should only be installed in a horizontal position)

Aramco also requires that isolation valves be fire tested and design verified. The company continuously updates and revises its standards as a result of lessons learnt and experiences gained from projects.

Velan Gulf Manufacturing Company recently obtained API 6D certification and was the first manufacturer within the Kingdom to get its Double Block and Bleed Ball Valves approved by 9COM from Saudi Aramco. This approval process is indicative of the quality criteria to be met by suppliers for projects in Saudi Arabia.

Applications in Saudi Industries

Oil and Gas Pipelines

Gate valves are the most common valves used for pipeline isolation. They offer a full-bore flow at a relatively low-pressure drop, allowing them to be used in crude oil transmission and gas distribution systems. Saudi Aramco's pipelines heavily depend on Gate Valves for sectionalising and isolation.

Globe valves are used where precise control is required, such as pressure reducing stations and flow metering bypass lines, in pipeline systems for the purposes of flow regulation.

Refineries

Valves are used a lot in refineries in both applications. Gate valves are used for isolation on process units, tank farms and utility systems. Globe valves used for process control, steam regulation and for auxiliary systems where throttling is needed.

AP1 600 for Gate Valves and ASME B16.34 for pressure-temperature ratings are used in large numbers across Saudi Arabia when specifying valves for refinery applications.

Desalination Plants

Saudi Arabia's desalination capacity is one of the biggest in the world. Gate valves are used in Desalination plants for seawater intake and product water isolation applications, and Globe valves are used in chemical dosing and flow control.

When a corrosive seawater environment exists, material selection requirement of the gate and globe valves are important, and stainless steel or duplex alloys can generally be used.

Petrochemical Facilities

Some of the world's largest petrochemical facilities are located at Jubail Industrial City and Yanbu Industrial City. These plants operate with valves throughout temperature and pressure ranges – globe valves are typically selected for process control, gate valves for utility isolation.

Material Selection for Saudi Environments

Whether to use a gate or globe valve is just half of the decision. The material should be suitable to the service environment.

In general, in Saudi facilities, carbon steel valves are used for hydrocarbon, water and non-corrosive services. They have adequate mechanical properties at relatively low cost.

When corrosion can be a problem, such as chemical processing, desalination, or any service that involves the presence of chlorides, or mild acids, stainless steel valves must be used.

Duplex stainless grades have higher strength and chloride stress-corrosion cracking resistance. These are typically used in offshore and high chloride environments.

Specific trim materials are typically needed for Saudi Aramco's specifications. For instance, pig trap valves must have duplex stainless steel material with Inconel 625 overlay on the seat pockets. This is the detail that makes a difference between a specification that works and one that doesn't.

Which Valve Should You Choose?

There is a simple decision guide for gate valve pipeline application versus globe valve application as follows:

Choose a gate valve when:

• You don't need to install the on/off isolation switch.

• To be efficient, you need very little pressure drop.

• You'll need full bore flow (for pigging)

• These valves will stay in place for long periods of time.

• You need to isolate large diameter pipelines

Choose a globe valve when:

• The flow needs to be regulated or throttled.

• A fine flow rate control is needed.

• The application includes steam or process control.

• You may allow larger pressure drop if you wish.

• The valve(s) will be used regularly as a control

A gate valve should not be used as a throttle. When a gate valve is only partially opened, the gate is vibrated, creates turbulence and the seat and gate are damaged. When the gate is partially open, the fluid slapping on it can cause tremendous damage. Gate valves are not for use as throttling valves, unless specifically permitted by the manufacturer.

Maintenance Considerations

Gate valves tend to be less maintenance intensive in on/off service. Wear on the gate and seats only occurs as the gate is opened and closed. For such systems in Saudi, this means a long-life span and infrequent maintenance.

Globe valves will need more maintenance because the disc slides against the seat, especially when used to throttle. But their exact sealing ability makes them worthwhile for the maintenance cost for control applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the differences between a globe valve and gate valve?

Gate valves stop flow, and offer low pressure loss, and are used for on/off service. But globe valves control flow more accurately, but restrict flow which causes pressure drop.

What's the better valve for pipelines in Saudi Arabia?

Oil and gas pipelines can be pigged and have minimal pressure loss when full bore flow through a pipeline is required, and Gate valves are used for pipeline isolation.

What are the uses of globe valves in an industrial system?

They are used to throttle and control flow in steam, water and process systems where precise flow control is needed.

Are flow control gate valves allowed?

Nope, they don't fit for throttling. If partially opened, it leads to vibration and damage to the gate and seats.

What is the reason for the pressure loss in globe valves?

The flow path within the unit varies, creating more resistance (and pressure loss). Pressure drop can be up to 73% of the inlet pressure when the opening is 20%.

Which valve has a longer life when exposed to heavy duty conditions?

Depends on the material and the application. Gate valves may have a longer life when used in on/off service, and globe valves may need more frequent maintenance in throttling service.

Does refinery use globe valves?

Yes, for process control, steam regulation and auxiliary systems.

In which industries are gate valves used in Saudi Arabia?

Industries include oil and gas, petrochemical, water transmission and desalination.

What are the industrial valves regulations in KSA?

API, ASME, ISO, SASO, and Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards (SAES) .

Globe valves are disadvantage of what?

More pressure drops and less suitable for use in large diameter pipelines than gate valves.

Why pipelines use gate valves?

They can be used to provide full bore flow with minimal pressure drop and to permit pipeline pigging operations.

Are there globe valves that can work at high pressure?

Yes, they are used in high pressure control applications. The pressure class is from Class 150 to Class 2500 as per ASME B16.34.

What is valve throttling?

It is the regulated blocking of a stream or the flow of fluid with a valve. Globe valves are designed specifically for this purpose.

Which valve is more expensive?

Globe valves tend to be more expensive because of the complex internal design and precision machining.

What is API 6D used for?

It regulates the design of pipeline valves such as gate valves which are used in oil and gas transmission systems.

Conclusion

It is not a brand choice or cost decision when choosing between the gate and globe valves for Saudi Arabia industrial applications. It's a matter of designing the valve to match the service.

Gate valves are used for stopping the flow. Globe valves open and close flow. This is the basic distinction. The gate valve provides no flow restriction (100% open) ideal for pipeline isolation. The globe valve offers the advantage of accurate regulation, but at the expense of a pressure loss, making it ideal for flow control.

When selecting valves for Saudi petrochemical plants and refineries, base the choice on the service. On/off isolation? Use a gate valve. Is it flow control or throttle? Use a globe valve. Always check the conformance to API standards and Saudi Aramco specifications prior to order.

Our industrial valves guide provides general information about valve types and applications of flow control equipment. If you are interested in another widely-used valve type in the Saudi oil and gas industry, you might like our article on Ball valves.

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