The peristaltic pump hose is one of the important parts of the peristaltic pump, but the end user often chooses the wrong tubing, making it unsuitable for the desired application. Some users even replace peristaltic pump hoses with ordinary tubing, with disastrous results. With the increasing variety of peristaltic pump hoses on the market, it also makes the selection of pump tubes more difficult.
Peristaltic pumps are gaining popularity due to their contamination-free pumping characteristics and the need for less maintenance. However, when designing or purchasing a peristaltic pump system, many engineers often overlook one important component - the peristaltic pump tubing.
Here are some factors that affect the performance of the peristaltic pump hose:
1. Corrosion resistance/compatibility
When transferring different fluids, the hose should show certain excellent chemical properties, which is called chemical compatibility. Such as: low adsorption, good temperature resistance, not easy to age, not swelling, corrosion resistance, low precipitates, etc.
Chemical resistance decreases with increasing temperature, and chemicals that do not affect the tube at room temperature may affect the hose with increasing temperature.
2. Under pressure
The application of peristaltic pumps is limited by the pressure-bearing properties of the hose.
If the system pressure reaches beyond the limit of the hose, the hose will expand, resulting in excessive hose wear or hose rupture.
The factors that affect the pressure bearing of the hose are: material, ratio of diameter to wall thickness, etc.
3. Temperature
The adaptation of the hose to the operating temperature range is a factor for the user to consider. Different materials have different temperature behaviors.
4. Dimensions
The size of the hose has a direct impact on the flow rate, and a good pump design will consider the inner diameter and wall thickness of the applicable hose to match the best hose size or pipe size range. The inner diameter of the hose determines the flow rate; the wall thickness affects the ability of the hose to be compressed and rebound, and has a great impact on the life of the hose.
5. Certification
Approvals may be required for hoses used for related purposes. Such as the United States Pharmacopoeia standard USP, the European Pharmacopoeia standard EP, the United States Food and Drug Administration standard FDA, the United States Department of Agriculture standard USDA and the National Sanitation Foundation standard NSF.
6. Flexibility/elasticity/lifespan
Different hoses have different resistance to repeated extrusion and friction of rollers. Different tube types, tube materials, pump heads, and operating speeds have different lifespans. The service life is called the flexible life in the pump system, and the characteristics of the pump are very consistent in a specific application. Choose long-life, thick-walled pipes and high-flow pumps to get longer hose life when running at lower speeds.
