What Are Peristaltic Hose Pumps and How Do They Work?
Peristaltic pumps are a type of positive displacement pump that can transfer a range of fluids. They have no seals or valves and are relatively inexpensive to maintain and keep in good condition. Each pump has flexible tubes or hoses, allowing an open path for both fluids and solids to flow through and resulting in strong resistance to abrasion.
Read on to find out how peristaltic hose pumps work and the advantages of choosing them over other pump technologies.
How do peristaltic pumps work?
Peristaltic pumps work in a similar way to how the human body pumps blood, oxygen, and nutrients through it. Instead of arteries and veins, peristaltic pumps work by moving a product through a hose through a system of compression and decompression. The ‘shoe’ or roller of the pump is fixed onto a rotor which presses fluid through the system.
Are there different types of peristaltic pumps?
Peristaltic pumps come in two varieties – tube pumps and hose pumps. Tube pumps are fully programmable and best for low flow rates; hose pumps are best used with solid materials.
Where are peristaltic hose pumps used?
Peristaltic pumps can be used in a range of settings. While hose pumps are commonly found where highly abrasive or viscous fluids are present, such as sewage or biogas plants, tube pumps tend to be used in chemical settings such as laboratories where the fluids requiring transport have less abrasive or solid content.
How are peristaltic pumps controlled?
As peristaltic pumps have a specific motor, reducer and head all built in, they are designed to stick to a specific flow rate and pressure. The simplest way for you to control your peristaltic pump is by using the on/off controls, but as these pumps are electric you can also connect them to a variable frequency drive (VFD) control in order to change the speed.
What are the advantages of using peristaltic hoses?
Peristaltic hoses are particularly useful for a range of applications, and have some particular advantages that may help you decide if they would be suitable for your needs:
- Less risk of contamination to both fluid and pump, due to fluid only touching the inner surface of the hose and connectors
- Bi-directional flow capabilities mean that the hose can be easily cleaned
- Less risk of fluid leaks as peristaltic pumps are seal-less
- Easy to set up and operate without any specialised training
- Quick and easy to maintain if an issue occurs, while scheduled servicing is simple – requiring just a hose change. Overall, they can be less expensive to own than other pump technologies.
At Checkmate Flexible Engineering, we have developed the technology of modern, reliable, hand-built peristaltic hoses for hose pumps. Our hoses benefit from many years of experience in design and manufacture of rubber materials, and a full range of liner compounds are available for different applications. Get in touch to learn more.