A peristaltic pump is a type of positive displacement pump that operates using a principle called peristalsis. It uses rotating rollers or shoes to compress and release a flexible tube, creating a squeezing action that moves the liquid through the tube.
Here’s how a peristaltic pump works:
- Tube Selection: A flexible tube or hose made of materials compatible with the liquid being pumped is selected. The tube is typically made of materials such as silicone, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), or other chemically resistant materials.
- Tube Installation: The selected tube is installed in the pump by inserting it into the pump head or rotor assembly, which contains the rollers or shoes.
- Roller or Shoe Rotation: The pump is powered by an electric motor or other driving mechanism. As the motor rotates, it drives the rollers or shoes in a circular motion.
- Squeezing Action: As the rollers or shoes rotate, they come into contact with the flexible tube, squeezing it against a fixed surface, such as a pump housing or track. This squeezing action creates a positive displacement, pushing the liquid inside the tube forward.
- Fluid Movement: As the rollers or shoes continue to rotate, they move along the length of the tube, sequentially compressing and releasing it. The compression creates a sealed section, or “occlusion,” in the tube, which moves the liquid forward. The released section of the tube allows more liquid to flow into the pump.
- Continuous Flow: The peristaltic pump’s continuous rotation of the rollers or shoes creates a regular pulsation or wave-like motion along the tube, propelling the liquid through the tube in a controlled and consistent manner.
- Direction Control: The direction of flow in a peristaltic pump can be controlled by reversing the rotation of the rollers or shoes. Reversing the rotation changes the direction of the squeezing action, allowing the liquid to be pumped in either direction.
- Flow Rate Control: The flow rate of a peristaltic pump is primarily controlled by adjusting the speed of the motor or the rotational speed of the rollers or shoes. Changing the speed alters the frequency and intensity of the squeezing action, thereby adjusting the flow rate.
- Tube Replacement: Over time, the flexible tube may wear out or become contaminated. It can be easily replaced by disconnecting the tube from the pump head and installing a new one.
Peristaltic pumps offer several advantages, including gentle pumping action, self-priming capabilities, peristaltic pump working excellent dosing accuracy, and the ability to handle a wide range of fluids, including viscous or abrasive liquids. These features make them suitable for various applications in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, laboratory research, medical devices, and more.
When it comes to more information about peristaltic pumps.
Here are some additional aspects worth knowing:
- Fluid control: Peristaltic pumps provide precise fluid control. By adjusting the speed of the motor or adjusting the rotation speed of the compressor, different flow regulation can be achieved. This makes peristaltic pumps ideal for applications that require precise control of liquid flow, such as laboratory experiments, drug formulation, etc.
- Peristaltic pump head type: Peristaltic pumps usually have different types of pump heads to suit different application needs. Common pump head types include single-channel, multi-channel, and pluggable pump heads. The single channel pump head is suitable for the transport of a single liquid, the multi-channel pump head can transport multiple liquids at the same time, and the pluggable pump head is easy to replace and clean.
- High precision and repeatability: The peristaltic pump has excellent precision and repeatability, and can deliver liquids with great accuracy. This is important for applications that require precise proportioning or quantitative delivery, such as drug formulation, laboratory solution preparation, etc.
- Adjustable compression force: Peristaltic pumps usually provide adjustable compression force or extrusion pressure. By adjusting the pressure of the compressor, the flow rate and pressure of the liquid can be controlled according to the characteristics and needs of the liquid. This flexibility makes peristaltic pumps suitable for handling liquids with different viscosity and rheology properties.
- Self-priming capacity: The peristaltic pump has a strong self-priming capacity and can work from a low pressure or no pressure state. At start-up, the compression force of the pump head creates enough negative pressure to allow the liquid to enter the pump autonomously without additional suction devices or pre-filling.
- No pollution and no leakage: The working principle of the peristaltic pump makes the liquid only contact with the pipe or line inside the pump, and does not have direct contact with the other parts of the pump. This avoids cross-contamination and also reduces the risk of leakage from the pump.
- Easy to clean and maintain: Peristaltic pumps usually have a modular design and are easy to disassemble and clean. Pump heads and piping can be quickly replaced, reducing downtime. In addition, since the liquid is not in direct contact with the rest of the pump, the pump is relatively easy to clean and maintain.
- No throttling loss and liquid shear: Peristaltic pumps push fluid by squeezing the pipe without throttling loss or liquid shear. This is important for applications where liquid integrity is required, such as biomedical research or sensitive chemical reactions.
Overall, the peristaltic pump is a versatile and reliable liquid transport device whose unique working principle makes it widely used in many different fields and applications. When selecting a peristaltic pump suitable for a particular application, fluid characteristics, flow requirements, accuracy requirements, and desired control options should be considered.
