Between a gate and globe valve, which one has the lowest pressure drop as fluid flows through it?

The gate valve is designed to minimize pressure drop when fluid flows through it. Its construction features a full-flow opening, which means that when fully opened, the internal gate is entirely retracted from the fluid path, allowing for unrestricted flow. This design leads to minimal turbulence and resistance, allowing fluid to pass through with very little friction loss.

In contrast, a globe valve has a more complex internal anatomy, including a spherical body that creates significant resistance to fluid flow, thus leading to higher pressure drops when compared to a gate valve. Similarly, although ball and butterfly valves can also provide low-pressure drops when fully opened, they still do not match the optimal flow characteristics of a gate valve specifically aimed at minimizing drops across the system.

By considering these fluid dynamics principles and valve configurations, it is clear that the gate valve is particularly suited for applications where low pressure drop is a critical performance aspect.