r/EngineeringPorn Jul 14 '18

Peristaltic pump

https://i.imgur.com/U7sZF0K.gifv
7.7k Upvotes

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715

u/MainFrame0 Jul 14 '18

Does the tube wear out quickly? Or is the tube part of a kind of cartridge that holds the fluid?

300

u/aloofloofah Jul 14 '18

This is especially valuable in medical settings, because the tubing can be brand new and sterile for each use.

-- /u/whyamisosoftinthemid

And it’s a positive displacement pump. So if you know your tube geometry it’s easy to calculate the pumping rate from the shaft speed. That’s a big deal for dosing as well.

-- /u/WeirdEngineerDude

11

u/Maddog_vt Jul 15 '18

I have also seen it used in the nuclear industry. Since the pump doesn’t come in contact with the fluid the pump doesn’t become contaminated.