HOW TO CHOOSE A PERISTALTIC PUMP TUBING?

When a customer asks VELON how to choose a peristaltic pump tubing, we will first confirm with the customer whether there are special requirements for the liquid to be transported, such as meeting the corresponding food and drug safety standards, corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, high pressure, humid environment, etc.

Then, the following factors must be considered:

Industry certification

When the peristaltic pump system is used in the fields of food, medicine, hygiene, etc., according to the industry requirements, the tubing that transmit the fluid must meet the corresponding certification standards.

Such as: United States Pharmacopoeia standard USP, European Pharmacopoeia standard EP, United States Food and Drug Administration standard FDA, United States Department of Agriculture standard USDA and National Sanitation Foundation standard NSF, EU RoHS, EU REACH, Chinese food safety standard GB4806.11-2016, etc.

Chemical resistance and chemical compatibility

When transferring different fluids, the tubing 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. However, chemical resistance decreases with increasing temperature, and chemicals that do not affect the tubing at room temperature may affect the tubing with increasing temperature.

Ordinary tubing do not have the chemical compatibility of specific peristaltic pump tubing. Even a small amount of chemical solvent may cause considerable damage to the transmission tubing, resulting in unsatisfactory tubing transmission and pipe damage. Leaks, or even damage to the peristaltic pump or more serious dangerous accidents.

In order to avoid the above situation, we recommend that the tubing soak test should be done in advance before using the peristaltic pump.

Any change in the tubing after the test indicates that the tubing has been chemically affected by the liquid, i.e. the tubing is not compatible with the liquid. If the tubing is not discolored, swollen, cracked, or otherwise damaged, the tubing is compatible with the fluid.

Pressure

The application of peristaltic pumps is limited by the pressure-bearing properties of the tubing. If the pressure is too high, the tubing will bulge and not fit the pump head, causing premature wear and failure. When the system pressure exceeds the bearing range of the tubing, the tubing may even burst, ejecting fluid and endangering safety.

The factors that affect the pressure bearing of the tubing are: material, ratio of diameter to wall thickness, etc. Different types of tubing have different pressure-bearing capacities.

Various peristaltic pump tubing have their own recommended working pressures, and customers should choose the appropriate model according to the pressure in the actual use environment.

Temperature

The adaptability of the tubing to the operating temperature range is also one of the important factors that customers need to consider. Different materials have different temperature behaviors. Usually, the applicable temperature range of the silicone tube is -40~200℃, which basically meets the user's requirements for high temperature or low temperature environment.

However, the maximum temperature and minimum temperature of the working temperature range of various types of tubing are different. It is recommended to determine the actual temperature of the use environment in advance to ensure that it is within the appropriate working temperature range of the peristaltic pump and tubing.

On the other hand, since chemical resistance decreases with increasing temperature, the user also needs to consider the effect of temperature on the chemical compatibility of the tubing. Therefore, when doing the peristaltic pump tubing immersion test, try to restore the real use environment to avoid greater losses due to negligence.

Size

The size of the tubing has a direct impact on the flow rate, and the inner diameter and wall thickness of the applicable tubing should be considered when selecting to match the optimal tubing size or pipe number range. The inner diameter of the tubing determines the flow rate; the wall thickness affects the ability of the tubing to be compressed and rebound, and has a great impact on the life of the tubing.

At the same time, the viscosity of the conveying fluid and whether there are particles will further affect the selection of the tubing model.

The flexibility, elasticity and life of the tubingDifferent tubing are resistant to repeated extrusion by rollers and have different friction capabilities. 

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. In the specific application, the characteristics of the pump are very consistent. Choose long-life, thick-walled pipes and high-flow pumps to achieve longer tubing life when running at lower speeds.

Of course, in practical applications, the life of the peristaltic pump tubing is also affected by factors such as ambient temperature and pressure, whether the selection is appropriate, and whether the conveying fluid is corrosive. You can maximize the longevity of your tubing by making precise sizing, creating the right environment, or choosing a tubing that is more durable for your specific requirements.

VELON also reminds customers that the tubing is a consumable material. With the accumulation of working time, it is destined to cause corresponding wear and tear. Once damaged, it will affect the transmission accuracy at least, and cause fluid leakage at worst, resulting in safety hazards and even damage to the peristaltic pump. In order to ensure the normal operation of the peristaltic pump, you still need to regularly clean, check or replace the tubing.

Usually, peristaltic pumps need to work continuously for a long time, so the durability and accuracy of peristaltic pumps, tubing and accessories, as well as whether they meet the certification standards of the required industry, are the key evaluation indicators for users.

VELON recommends our silicone tubing, which are widely used in life science, medical equipment, food and beverage and other fields. This series of silicone tubes have passed the USPVI/FDA certification, and meet the requirements of the EU RoHS directive, the Chinese food safety standard GB4806.11-2016 and other industry requirements, providing reliable guarantee for high-quality fluid transmission.