Types of peristaltic pumps

Peristaltic pumps are categorized into two types: hose and tube pumps. Both pump types utilize rollers to transport fluid within a tube, but they differ in their pressure capabilities, tubing material, and heat dissipation.

Peristaltic hose pumps

Hose peristaltic pumps are used in industrial applications because they contain thick reinforced tubes to transport fluids through the pump. Because of these thick tubes, hose pumps can operate at pressures up to four times greater than tube pumps can. Greater operating pressure also means that hose peristaltic pumps do not experience blockages as often as their tube counterparts. Unlike tube pumps, hose pumps contain casings filled with lubricant to prevent overheating and abrasion due to friction caused by the rollers.

Peristaltic tube pumps

Tube peristaltic pumps move liquid at lower pressures than hose pumps. Instead of a thick reinforced tube, the rollers inside a tube roller pump squeeze a thin, non-reinforced tube. The number of rollers a tube pump contains can range anywhere from two to twelve. Regardless of number, these rollers are always positioned equidistant from each other. For example, two rollers will be positioned 180 degrees apart, while four rollers will be located 90 degrees from each other. Pumps with two rollers discharge fluid with lower frequency than those with more. However, pumps with a high number of rollers will live shorter lifespans than those with a few due to increased blockages in the tube. The most common applications of these low-pressure pumps are medical liquids and chemical metering.