Gate valves are suitable for fully open or fully closed applications, and are generally installed in pipelines as isolation valves, and cannot be used as control valves. When the gate valve is fully open, there is no blockage in the flow path, so the pressure loss is very low. Therefore, gate valves are typically used when minimum pressure loss and free bore are required. The gate valve is a multi turn valve and its operation is accomplished by clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the valve stem. When operating the valve stem, the gate plate moves up or down driven by the threads of the valve stem. Since the valve must rotate multiple times to move from the fully open to the fully closed position, the slower operating speed also prevents the occurrence of water hammer effects.