A peristaltic pump is a type of (positive) displacement pump used for pumping a variety of fluids.
It is like a straw that squeezes your drink out when you suck on it. In simple words, a peristaltic pump is like a tube that has little rollers that squeeze it to push fluid through.
From the pump's discharge back to the point of its intake, the liquid which flows through it only is in contact with the peristaltic pump's tubing and not the pump itself. Since the liquid is only in contact with the tubing, the pumps do not cause any inconvenience in leaking or dripping.
How Does A Peristaltic Pump Work?
A peristaltic pump has two primary components; a motor which has little rollers and a tubing, as stated earlier, squeezes the tubing to cause a tight movement of water aka drawing the liquid from point A and pushing the liquid forth towards point B.
Moreover, because of no contact of liquid with the mechanism of the pump, thus the pump is best to be used for contaminated liquids. We have also covered an in-depth guide on how does a peristaltic pump work.
Peristaltic Pump Tubing
The peristaltic pump tubing can be adjustable, either by the size of the diameter or through the clutching mechanism of the pump (some of the pumps have that option) where the tubing can be dialed in easily with no extra hassle. We have also covered an in-depth guide for our users on peristaltic pump tubing.
Peristaltic Pump Flow Rates
It is very important to consider the flow rates of peristaltic pumps when buying one. Flow rates determine the amount of liquid transported from Point A to Point B and the speed it takes to transport.
For example, we at Spectra Scientific offer our Field Pro 3 Peristaltic Pump which offers a flow rate of 25-650 milliliter per minute, which is the top-notch flow rate standard in the pumps industry.
Peristaltic Pump Uses
A peristaltic pump can be used for many reasons, including but not limited to livestock feeding, medical, agriculture and water treatment, where you do not risk cross-contamination with other chemicals/liquids.
Peristaltic Pump Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages
- Peristaltic pumps are great because they can handle viscous fluids and are easy to clean.
- They're also good for metering fluids and can handle abrasive or corrosive materials.
- Peristaltic pumps are also known for having a low sheer rate, which is important for delicate materials.
- More importantly, they are good for transferring fluids without contaminating them with the pump.
- Last but not least, they're great for applications where the fluid needs to be kept sterile.
Disadvantages
- Peristaltic pumps can be somewhat noisy.
- Depending on the type of pumps you buy, some have very limited flow rate.
- There is a risk of the tubing wearing out because of rough mechanism of the pump, so they have to be replaced.
- Peristaltic pumps can be quite costly and perhaps be expensive to maintain in the long run.
- Speaking of long run usage with these pumps, they can have a shorter life span compared to other types of pumps.
Peristaltic Pump Groundwater Sampling
Most of our users require peristaltic pumps for groundwater sampling. Here we shall discuss about the use of peristaltic pumps for groundwater sampling.
Peristaltic pumps are easy to use and maintain for groundwater sampling. They can handle a wide range of viscosities, including those with high content, they are self-priming and can run dry without causing damage to the pump.
Our recommended peristaltic pump is Field Pro 3 for peristaltic pump groundwater sampling, it is the most popular choice as it not only offers great durability but also is reliable for industry standard usage.
Conclusion
A peristaltic pump can be a great choice for transfer of liquids, for both personal and industrial use. Depending on the type of use-case you require with a peristaltic pump, you may select the pumps of your choice in the market.
We have also covered a comparison between two of the most leading companies and their pumps, check out our comparison guide on Spectra Scientific Field Pro 3 VS Solinst Model 410 Peristaltic Pump.
