Peristaltic Pump Types Explained
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I. Classification by Function
The function of a peristaltic pump directly determines its applicable tasks and scenarios. Especially for novice buyers, locking down the functional type first before considering other details can greatly improve selection efficiency. The following three types are the most commonly used and in-demand ones on the market, with their characteristics, applicable scenarios and key purchasing points explained in detail one by one.
1. Basic Speed-Regulating Peristaltic Pump
As the name implies, the core function of this type of peristaltic pump is speed regulation. It indirectly controls the liquid delivery speed by changing the rotation speed of the pump head. It is the most basic and common type of peristaltic pump, with an affordable price and suitable for most simple liquid delivery needs.
Core Features:
- Simple operation with only speed regulation function (common adjustment methods: knob, button)
- Enabling continuous liquid delivery, but unable to accurately control flow rate and delivery volume
- For example, you can adjust it for "fast delivery" or "slow delivery", but cannot precisely set "10ml per minute" or "50ml in total"
- The flow rate will fluctuate slightly with pipeline pressure and liquid viscosity
Applicable Users/Scenarios:
Ideal for scenarios where there are no strict requirements for flow accuracy and delivery volume, and only continuous liquid delivery is needed. It is also the first choice for beginners.
Examples:
Simple liquid transfer in laboratories, fish tank water change/medication addition, liquid supply for small equipment, extensive delivery in the chemical industry (without precise metering) – this type is fully sufficient for these scenarios.
2. Flow-Controlled Peristaltic Pump
Upgraded from the basic speed-regulating type, the core advantage of the flow-controlled peristaltic pump is precise flow control. It can directly set and display the actual delivery flow rate (units: ml/min, L/h, etc.) without manual conversion of rotation speed, featuring higher flow stability and meeting most scenarios with strict requirements for delivery accuracy.
Core Features:
- Supports direct setting and display of flow rate with higher accuracy than the basic speed-regulating type (usually an error of ±1%~±5%, subject to specific models)
- Enables continuous and stable precise delivery
- Some models support flow calibration to adapt to liquids with different viscosities and pipelines of different specifications
- The operation is slightly more complex than the basic type but easy to get started with, and the panel clearly marks flow parameters
Applicable Users/Scenarios:
Suitable for users with clear requirements for flow accuracy who need to stably deliver liquids at a fixed flow rate. It is the most widely used type at present, covering laboratories, small-scale production, medical assistance and many other scenarios.
Examples:
Reagent addition in laboratories (requiring precise delivery of 5ml reagent per minute), liquid proportioning in small production lines, micro-infusion in the medical field (non-sterile scenarios), water sample delivery in the environmental protection industry – the flow-controlled type is definitely the right choice.
3. Dispensing Peristaltic Pump
The most comprehensive and high-precision type in terms of functions, the core function of the dispensing peristaltic pump is quantitative dispensing. It can not only control the flow rate, but also precisely set the single delivery volume (e.g., 10ml each time) and dispensing times (e.g., 20 consecutive dispenses), realizing automatic batch quantitative delivery without manual attendance. It is suitable for scenarios with extremely high requirements for quantitative accuracy.
Core Features:
- Integrates both flow control and quantitative dispensing functions with high quantitative accuracy (usually an error of ±0.5%~±2%)
- Supports multiple dispensing modes (single dispense, continuous dispense, cyclic dispense, etc.)
- Some models are equipped with RS485 communication and foot switch for connection with automated equipment
- The operation is relatively complex, but the automation level is high, which can greatly save labor costs
Applicable Users/Scenarios:
Suitable for users who need batch quantitative delivery and pursue automation and high precision, widely used in high-end laboratories, precision production, medical care, food and beverage and other fields.
Examples:
Batch sample quantitative addition in laboratories (adding 8ml reagent to 20 samples each time), micro quantitative filling in pharmaceutical production, condiment quantitative dispensing in the food industry, small-dose subpackaging of essence in the cosmetics industry – the dispensing type is a must for these scenarios.
Summary
At present, some flow-controlled peristaltic pumps are added with basic dispensing functions such as time-based dispensing and suck-back, which seems to overlap with the functions of dispensing peristaltic pumps. However, there are essential differences between the two in core positioning and capabilities, specifically in the stability of repeated quantitative dispensing and automation capability:
Flow-controlled type: The basic dispensing function is only an "additional feature". It can only realize simple quantification by setting the delivery duration, without special algorithms and hardware support for repeated quantitative dispensing. The error of multiple quantifications is large with poor stability, which cannot meet the demand for batch precise quantitative dispensing. Its core still lies in continuous precise flow delivery.
Dispensing type: Repeated quantitative dispensing is its core function. Equipped with exclusive quantitative control algorithms and high-precision transmission structures, it supports precise setting of single delivery volume by "volume", enabling stable repeated dispensing for dozens or hundreds of times. It is also equipped with automated connection interfaces, with its core focusing on batch automated precise quantitative dispensing.
II. Secondary Classifications
In addition to the above three core functional classifications, there are other types of peristaltic pumps classified by application scenario, structure and special requirements on the market. They are briefly summarized here to avoid confusion caused by excessive parameters, and can be selected as needed:
1. Classification by Application Scenario: Industrial vs Laboratory
The essential difference lies in protection grade and power, which does not conflict with functional classification (e.g., an industrial peristaltic pump can be flow-controlled, and a laboratory one can be dispensing type):
Industrial type: High power, wide flow range and high protection grade (dust and splash proof), suitable for harsh production environments (e.g., chemical workshops, sewage treatment plants).
Laboratory type: Small size, low noise and high precision (mostly flow-controlled or dispensing type), suitable for clean and miniaturized scenarios (e.g., laboratories, assay rooms).
2. Classification by Channel Number: Single-Channel vs Multi-Channel
The core is the number of liquid delivery paths at the same time, and can be selected as needed:
Single-channel: Only one liquid path can be delivered at a time, suitable for most single-demand scenarios (e.g., delivering a single reagent or liquid medicine alone) with a high cost performance ratio.
Multi-channel: Multiple liquid paths can be delivered at a time (2-channel, 4-channel and 8-channel are common), suitable for scenarios where multiple liquids need to be delivered simultaneously with consistent flow rate/quantification (e.g., synchronous liquid addition for multiple samples in laboratories), with a higher price than the single-channel type.
3. Classification by Special Requirements: Explosion-Proof, Sterile, etc.
These belong to customized requirements and are not needed by most users:
Explosion-proof type: Suitable for flammable and explosive environments (e.g., explosion-proof workshops in the petroleum and chemical industries), with explosion-proof certification and a relatively high price.
Sterile type: Suitable for the medical, food and biological fields (e.g., sterile infusion, sterile filling), with pump heads and pipelines made of sterile materials that can be sterilized at high temperature.
Other types such as corrosion-resistant and high-temperature types are all customized according to specific harsh working conditions.