What Is a Gate Valve with Electric Actuator?

What It Is？

A gate valve with electric actuator combines a gate valve (the wedge/disc moves up and down to achieve tight shut-off) with an electric actuator (which converts electrical energy into torque and linear motion to replace the handwheel). It’s widely used wherever remote or automatic control is needed, cycling is moderate, and tight isolation is critical—especially in water and industrial utility lines. Yaxing’s gate valve platforms cover mainstream manicipal and industrial specifications, providing a solid base for electric actuation.

How It Works

The electric actuator outputs torque through a gear reducer to drive the stem up or down, lifting or lowering the gate “like a door.”

Common control modes include:

  ● On/Off: End-of-travel limit switches confirm fully open/closed positions and return discrete signals.

  ● Modulating: Accepts 4–20 mA, 0–10 V or fieldbus commands with position feedback for finer positioning.

  ● Fail-Safe Options: Handwheel override, battery backup, or self-locking designs to maintain a safe position on power loss.

Tip: In most water applications, the gate valve is intended for isolation (open/close). If you need frequent throttling, verify the trim and actuator duty cycle.

Key Components & How to Select 

1) Valve Side

  ● Size / Pressure: DN50–DN600 and PN10/PN16/PN25 are common in water and HVAC projects; North American jobs may specify ANSI Class (e.g., Class 150/300).

  ● End Connection: Flanged ends dominate in waterworks; smaller sizes may occasionally use threaded or socket connections.

  ● Construction: Rising vs. non-rising stem; resilient-seated designs are favored in water systems for tightness and low leakage, while metal-seated designs suit higher temperature, abrasive, or tougher media.

2) Actuator Side

  ● Power Supply: Typical options include 24 VDC, 110/220 VAC, and 380 VAC.

  ● Control Method: On/Off or modulating (4–20 mA / 0–10 V / Modbus RTU, etc.).

 ● Ingress & Protection: For outdoor or buried chambers, prioritize IP67 or higher; for flood-prone pits, consider enhanced sealing or submersion-resistant packages. Choose explosion-proof versions where hazardous-area regulations apply.

3) Environment Side

  ● Medium: Raw water, treated water, wastewater, seawater, or process water drive choices in body material, seat material, and coatings.

  ● Installation Conditions: Above-ground vs. underground pits; risk of flooding; need for local indicators or remote position transmitters.

  ● Operating Profile: High cycling or modulating service demands careful attention to actuator duty cycle, thermal design, and torque margins.

4) Compliance Side

  ● Standards & Certifications: Depending on region and project specs, look for DIN/EN, BS, AWWA C509/C515, or equivalent series. For potable water, check regional drinking-water approvals (e.g., WRAS/NSF) where applicable. YAXING supplies valve platforms designed to align with these frameworks and can pair them with suitable actuator configurations.

Electric vs. Manual vs. Pneumatic (Pros & Cons)

  ● Electric vs. Manual: Electric actuation enables remote operation and automation, reducing routine site visits—especially valuable for large diameters and deep pit installations.

  ● Electric vs. Pneumatic: Electric systems don’t require a compressed-air station, simplifying layout and maintenance. In ultra-high-frequency or very low-temperature service, pneumatics can still be competitive.

  ● Lifecycle: Initial CAPEX exceeds manual solutions, but OPEX often improves thanks to faster response, fewer truck rolls, and easier integration with SCADA/BMS. Plan preventive maintenance for motors, limit switches, and seals.

Typical Applications

Electric gate valves are broadly used in municipal water & wastewater, building services & infrastructure, HVAC/district cooling, food & pharma utilities, metallurgy, and power plants. YAXING’s resilient-seated gate valves are optimized for tight shut-off and durability in these environments.

Why Yaxing Valve

  ● 20+ Years of Experience & Scalable Capacity: YAXING operates production facilities of roughly 20,000 m², with 100+ pieces of equipment and an annual capacity around 8,000 tons, supporting predictable lead times and batch delivery.

  ● Comprehensive Portfolio, High Compatibility: Gate valves, butterfly valves, check valves, strainers, control valves, balancing valves, air valves, expansion joints, and piping accessories allow system-level selection and packaged supply for EPC schedules.

  ● Electrification-Ready: Many gate valve models feature ISO top-flange interfaces and ready-for-actuation designs; valves can be delivered actuator-mounted to compress commissioning timelines.

  ● Documentation & Support: Product catalogs, data sheets, and purchasing FAQs streamline comparison and RFQ preparation for international projects.

5-Step Quick Selection Checklist (Copy This into Your RFQ)

  ● Medium / Temperature / Solids (e.g., raw water at 25 °C, sand 200 ppm)

 ● Size / Pressure / Flange Standard (e.g., DN300, PN16, EN 1092-1 flanged)

 ● Operating Requirement (on/off or modulating; expected cycles per year; target open/close time)

 ● Actuator Parameters (power supply, I/O signals/protocols, local/remote indication)

 ● Environment & Compliance (installation location, IP rating, explosion-proof rating, potable-water or industry approvals)

FAQ

Q1: How do I choose between an electric gate valve and an electric butterfly valve?
Butterfly valves excel at very large sizes, lower pressure drop, and frequent throttling. Gate valves shine where you need near-zero pressure loss when fully open, tight isolation, and bi-directional sealing.

Q2: Is it suitable for potable water?
Yes—choose a resilient-seated gate valve with potable-water-compatible coating and materials, and specify applicable drinking-water approvals as required by local regulations and project specs.

Q3: Can it be installed in deep pits or valve chambers?
Absolutely. Specify high ingress protection (e.g., IP67 or higher), remote position indication, sealed cable entries, and reliable drainage for pits prone to flooding.