Diaphragm Vs Peristaltic Pumps – Which One to Choose for Metering Applications?

Diaphragm Vs Peristaltic Pumps – Which One to Choose for Metering Applications?

Posted by David Cannon on 18th Jan 2021

Today, positive displacement pumps are gaining immense popularity and are widely used for pumping high viscosity fluids such as paints, oils, and resins across industries. They are used in applications where precise dosing or high pressure is crucial. There are different types of positive displacement pumps in use today. Among these, diaphragm pumps and peristaltic pumps lead the list. Both types of pumps are known for offering years of reliable as well as efficient use. But, when it comes to deciding which one to choose, it is important to understand that what they are and the advantages of each type of pump. This post discusses diaphragm and peristaltic pumps in detail.

A Brief Overview of Diaphragm Metering Pumps

Diaphragm pumps or diaphragm metering pumps are one important type of positive displacement pumps. They are one of the most flexible and easy metering solutions for use. They are designed to handle a wide variety of fluids ranging from light viscous fluids and volatile solvents to viscous and sticky fluids, corrosive chemicals, and more.

Advantages of Diaphragm Pumps

Diaphragm pumps are increasingly popular owing to the beneficial features they offer. The following are some important ones.

  • With proper maintenance, diaphragm metering pumps are relatively inexpensive to operate over time. They are energy-efficient as they are designed to use more torque on the forward stroke.
  • These pumps are ideal for pumping chemicals or abrasive liquids. This is because they are less likely to leak or be damaged due to corrosion.
  • Overcoming a flow line pressure is easier with standard design diaphragm metering pumps.

Applications of Diaphragm Pumps

These versatile pumps have the following applications:

  • Treating water
  • Handling potentially flammable liquids
  • Solvents, acids, chemicals, and bilge transfer
  • Paint and ceramic slurry transfer

Top Maintenance Tips for Diaphragm Pumps

A diaphragm pump needs the liquid to be pumped to be clean and free of particulates to function properly. This is because it has check valves on both the intake as well as discharge sides. If any of those valves become clogged, then the pump will not function properly. This will result in a loss of suction. These pumps work best without back-pressure. This means it is important to set the pump to maximum stroke to overcome any back-pressure. Some diaphragm pumps feature bleed valves for removing trapped air and sludge.

An Introduction to Peristaltic Pumps

Popularly known as peristaltic hose pumps, they are used for pumping different types of clean, sterile, and aggressive fluids. Being one of the important types of positive displacement pumps, these pumps are used in applications ranging from wastewater treatment to chemical transfer to pharmaceutical processing, and more.

Peristaltic Pumps Advantages

Here are some notable benefits of peristaltic pumps:

  • One of the main benefits of peristaltic hose pumps is they have a long shelf life.
  • There are notably long periods between two maintenance schedules.
  • They work well with a high level of particulate in a solution that is being pumped.
  • They are simple and easy to use.
  • They are capable to handle dirty or thick liquids as there are no check valves for clogging.
  • These pumps prime easily, thus providing good suction capabilities for most liquids.

Applications of Peristaltic Pumps

Peristaltic pumps have many uses across industries. They are as follows:

  • Heart/lung machines during surgery
  • Pizza sauce dispensing
  • Juice production
  • Injection of vitamins A&D
  • Circuit board manufacturing

Peristaltic Pumps Maintenance Tips Explained

Due to the constant squeezing, the tube or hose on the pump becomes weak and the flow rate lessens over time. The motor on the pump is continuously under load, which consumes more power and energy. The continuous squeezing, which is also called fatigue, makes the hose leak or rupture. To avoid this, OEMs set hoses for a specific time. This could decrease the risk of tears or leaks.

Investing in the right pump assures high technical performance as well as efficiency. Are you looking for appropriate pumps for your metering applications? If yes, then it is important to source them from a trusted supplier like Cannon Water Technology, Inc. With a vast market presence and a highly experienced team, the company provides high-quality diaphragm and peristaltic pumps from top brands.