Peristaltic Pumps

Peristaltic pumps are positive displacement pumps designed for reliable transfer and dosing of difficult fluids including abrasive slurries, viscous liquids, corrosive chemicals, shear-sensitive products and liquids containing suspended solids.

Also known as hose pumps or tube pumps, they keep the pumped fluid contained inside a flexible hose or tube. This means there are no mechanical seals, valves or rotating components in direct contact with the product.

AxFlow supplies industrial peristaltic hose pumps and compact tube dosing pumps for applications across water treatment, mining, chemical processing, food and beverage, ceramics, paints, paper and general industry.

What Is a Peristaltic Pump?

A peristaltic pump moves fluid by repeatedly compressing a flexible hose or tube.

As rollers or shoes travel around the pump head, they squeeze the hose and push a trapped volume of liquid towards the discharge. When the hose reopens behind the compression point, it creates suction and draws more fluid into the pump.

Because the liquid remains inside the hose or tube, the fluid path is simple and the hose is normally the primary wetted wear component.

How Does a Peristaltic Pump Work?

A rotor fitted with rollers or shoes compresses the flexible hose as it rotates. The moving point of compression pushes a trapped volume of liquid towards the pump outlet.

Once the roller or shoe passes, the hose returns towards its original shape. This increases the internal volume of the hose and draws more liquid into the pump.

The result is a self-priming, positive displacement pumping action. Flow is broadly related to rotor speed, but actual delivery also depends on the hose dimensions, compression setting, fluid viscosity, suction conditions, discharge pressure and hose condition.

Peristaltic pumps produce a naturally pulsating flow. A pulsation dampener may therefore be required where smoother discharge flow is important.

Hose Pumps and Tube Pumps

“Peristaltic pump” is the general name for the technology. Hose pumps and tube pumps use the same operating principle but are designed for different duties.

Industrial Hose Pumps

Hose pumps use a reinforced elastomer hose and are generally selected for higher flow, higher pressure and demanding industrial transfer duties.

Typical applications include:

• Abrasive mineral slurries
• Wastewater sludge
• Lime slurry
• Thickened process fluids
• Chemical transfer
• Solids-containing liquids

Peristaltic Tube Pumps

Tube pumps use smaller, usually non-reinforced tubing and are commonly selected for lower-flow dosing, sampling and chemical-feed applications.

They are particularly useful where accurate flow adjustment, compact installation and simple tube replacement are important.

Roller and Shoe Peristaltic Pumps

The hose or tube may be compressed by either rollers or sliding shoes.

Roller peristaltic pumps generally create less friction and heat at the hose surface. They can require less drive power and are commonly used for dosing, lower-pressure transfer and applications where hose life is a priority.

Shoe peristaltic pumps are frequently used for higher-pressure industrial duties. The sliding contact produces more frictional heat, so the correct lubricant, compression setting and operating speed are important.

Actual pressure and flow limits depend on the specific pump model. In many designs, roller pumps are used at lower or moderate pressures, while shoe pumps support higher-pressure duties.

How to Choose a Peristaltic Pump

Selecting the right peristaltic pump requires more than matching the maximum flow rate. The complete operating duty should be reviewed to achieve reliable performance and acceptable hose life.

Flow and Pressure

Define the minimum, normal and maximum flow, together with the normal and maximum discharge pressure.

Avoid selecting a pump solely by its maximum published capacity. Operating a larger pump at a lower speed can often reduce hose fatigue and improve service life.

Fluid Properties

Confirm the liquid’s:

• Viscosity and rheology
• Density
• Temperature
• Chemical composition and concentration
• Abrasiveness
• Shear sensitivity
• Tendency to crystallise or release gas

Viscous fluids may require larger suction pipework and slower pump speeds to allow the hose to refill completely between compression cycles.

Solids Content

Assess the maximum particle size, solids concentration, particle shape and hardness.

The internal hose diameter and connection size must provide sufficient passage for the solids. Sharp or oversized particles may damage the hose even where the pump can pass them hydraulically.

Hose or Tube Compatibility

Select the hose according to:

• Chemical compatibility
• Operating temperature
• Discharge pressure
• Suction conditions
• Solids and abrasiveness
• Cleaning chemicals
• Required food or regulatory approvals

Compatibility should be confirmed for the actual chemical concentration and temperature, rather than from the general material name alone.

Suction Conditions

Consider suction lift, pipe length, bends, valves and inlet restrictions.

Peristaltic pumps offer strong suction capability, but excessive suction lift or restrictive pipework can prevent the hose from refilling fully. This reduces flow and may shorten hose life.

Pump Speed and Duty Cycle

Pump speed has a major influence on hose fatigue, temperature and service life. Lower speeds generally reduce the number of compression cycles and internal heat generated within the hose.

Continuous, intermittent and batch duties should therefore be assessed differently.

Pulsation and Dosing Accuracy

Peristaltic pumps deliver fluid in discrete volumes, so some pulsation is inherent.

For accurate chemical dosing, calibrate the pump under actual operating conditions. Discharge pressure, suction lift, tube condition and fluid viscosity can all affect the delivered flow.

Installation and Compliance

Also consider:

• ATEX or hazardous-area requirements
• Food-contact or hygienic requirements
• Motor and control options
• Leak detection
• Remote control and flow verification
• Access for hose replacement
• Whole-life maintenance costs

Why Choose a Peristaltic Pump?

Peristaltic pumps are particularly useful where conventional pump designs struggle with the product or process.

Key advantages include:

• Abrasive slurry handling — no wetted impeller, mechanical seal or check valves.
• Chemical containment — only the hose or tube normally contacts the fluid.
• Strong self-priming capability — useful for suction-lift applications when correctly selected.
• Low-shear pumping — suitable for many shear-sensitive products.
• Solids handling — unobstructed fluid paths can accommodate many suspended solids.
• Dry-running capability — many designs can run dry within the manufacturer's operating limits.
• Reversible flow — useful for line emptying and product recovery.
• Controlled dosing — pump output can be adjusted by changing operating speed.

Peristaltic pumps are especially valuable when abrasion, solids, viscosity, chemical compatibility or product containment would make another pump technology difficult to maintain.

Applications of Peristaltic Pumps

Peristaltic pumps are used across industries that need reliable transfer or dosing of abrasive, corrosive, viscous or solids-containing fluids. The supplied draft already identifies water treatment, chemicals, mining, food processing and general industry as the main application groups.

Water and Wastewater Treatment

Peristaltic pumps are commonly used for:

• Sludge transfer
• Lime slurry
• Polymer dosing
• Sodium hypochlorite dosing
• Ferric chloride dosing
• Filter-press feed
• Wastewater sampling

Their ability to handle solids, viscous media and off-gassing chemicals makes them well suited to municipal and industrial water-treatment processes.

Chemical Processing

Peristaltic chemical pumps can transfer or dose acids, alkalis, oxidising chemicals, dyes and other aggressive process fluids.

The selected hose or tube must be compatible with the exact chemical, concentration and operating temperature.

Mining and Minerals

Industrial hose pumps are used for abrasive slurries, tailings, mineral concentrates, flotation chemicals and thickened process media.

Because the slurry is contained within the hose, there are no wetted mechanical seals, valves or rotating components exposed directly to the abrasive product.

Food and Beverage

Suitable food-grade peristaltic pumps can provide gentle transfer of:

• Sauces and syrups
• Fruit preparations
• Yeast
• Dairy products
• Oils and fats
• Food ingredients

The exact pump, hose material and connections must meet the application’s food-contact, cleaning and hygiene requirements.

Ceramics, Paper, Paints and Coatings

Peristaltic pumps are also used for ceramic slip, china clay, pigments, paints, coatings, paper stock and other abrasive or high-viscosity process fluids.

When Not to Use a Peristaltic Pump

Peristaltic pumps are versatile, but they are not the most efficient solution for every application.

Consider an alternative pump technology where:

• Very high flow rates of clean, low-viscosity liquid are required.
• The required pressure exceeds the selected hose pump’s operating limit.
• No hose or tube material is compatible with the chemical and temperature.
• Near-pulse-free flow is required without using pulsation control.
• Extremely high process temperatures exceed available hose ratings.
• Sharp or oversized solids could cut, block or damage the hose.
• The expected hose replacement frequency makes another pump more economical.

Depending on the application, centrifugal pumps, progressive cavity pumps, rotary lobe pumps or AODD pumps may provide a more suitable solution.

WHY BUY PERISTALTIC PUMPS FROM AXFLOW

• AxFlow is the preeminent supplier of positive displacement pumps in the UK and has over 60 years’ experience when it comes to peristaltic pumps.
• AxFlow offers national support from its 3 technical service centres spread across the UK.
• AxFlow offers a variety of different ranges of peristaltic pump including hose pumps for flows up to 72 m3/hr, smaller tube pumps and dosing pump models.
• AxFlow stocks replacement hoses and tubes both in the UK and in its European Distribution Centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a peristaltic pump?

A peristaltic pump is a positive displacement pump that transfers fluid by progressively compressing a flexible hose or tube. The pumped liquid remains contained within the hose and does not contact the rotor or pump casing.

Can peristaltic pumps handle solids?

Yes. Peristaltic pumps can handle many suspended solids and slurries because there are no valves or impellers in the fluid path. The maximum solids size depends on the hose bore, connections, particle shape and pump model.

Are peristaltic pumps suitable for abrasive slurries?

Yes. They are widely used for abrasive slurries because the fluid contacts only the hose. However, hose life can still be affected by pressure, speed, temperature, solids characteristics, chemical compatibility and hose compression.

Can a peristaltic pump run dry?

Many peristaltic pumps can run dry because the pumped liquid is not needed to lubricate a mechanical seal. Permitted dry-running duration and conditions must still be confirmed for the selected pump.

Are peristaltic pumps self-priming?

Yes. Hose recovery creates suction, giving peristaltic pumps strong self-priming capability. Actual suction lift depends on the model, hose condition, fluid viscosity, pump speed and suction-pipe design.

Are peristaltic pumps accurate for dosing?

Peristaltic tube pumps can provide accurate and repeatable chemical dosing. The pump should be calibrated under actual operating conditions because backpressure, suction lift, fluid properties and tube wear can affect delivered flow.

How often should a peristaltic pump hose be replaced?

There is no fixed replacement interval for every application. Hose life depends on operating speed, pressure, temperature, chemistry, solids, suction conditions and duty cycle. Monitoring running hours and changes in flow helps establish a suitable preventive replacement interval.

Do peristaltic pumps require pressure-relief protection?

Yes. As positive displacement pumps, they can continue generating pressure against a closed or blocked discharge. A correctly selected pressure-relief valve, pressure switch or other overpressure device should protect the pump and pipework.

Do peristaltic pumps produce pulsating flow?

Yes. Their positive displacement action produces some flow pulsation. Correct pump sizing, lower speed, multi-channel arrangements or a pulsation dampener can reduce its effect.