Knowledge bank
A high-suction positive displacement pump used in many industries
Thanks to their strong suction and versatile capacity, hose pumps are used in many different plants. The pump can handle virtually all types of liquids, such as particulate media, slurries, as well as viscous and free-flowing liquids. This makes it ideal for breweries, power stations, waste treatment plants and sewage treatment plants. The hose pump is also commonly used in the chemical, energy and mining sectors.
How does a peristaltic pump work?
The fluid in a hose pump is contained in a flexible hose mounted inside a circularly shaped pump housing. A number of rollers or pressure shoes attached to the rotor compress the flexible hose. As the rotor rotates, the pressure shoe squeezes the hose against the housing. This is what forces the fluid to move in the direction of rotation through the hose. Once the cam, the pressure shoe, has passed the opening to the suction side, the hose opens again to its naturally open state. When this happens, the pump sucks new fluid into the tube. This process is called peristalsis, which is why hose pumps are often referred to as peristaltic pumps (the English name for these pumps is hose pump or peristalic pump).
Designed with pressure shoes and compactor
Hose pumps often have two or three pressure shoes, but there are also models with several rollers. They also have a compressor, a kind of rotor that compresses the hose one point at a time, thus pushing the liquid forward. Thanks to its design, a peristaltic pump is leak-proof, i.e. the leakage between the pressure side and the suction side is minimised. The peristaltic pump therefore creates a negative pressure or suction that is exceptionally good. In addition, the pump can handle high delivery pressures, normally up to 13 bar in continuous operation.
Smaller hose pumps are often driven by an electric motor and larger hose pumps for industrial use are usually driven by a gear motor due to high torque and relatively low speed. The pump casing is filled with a lubricant (often glycerine) to avoid abrasion on the outside of the hose and prevent heat build-up.
In which versions are the hose pumps available?
At Lyma you will find both stationary and portable hose pumps. The portable ones come with a mobile trolley or with a carrying handle, have a capacity of up to 18 m3/h and can handle 2 bar. The stationary hose pumps are available up to 50 m3/h and can handle up to 13 bar. Both the stationary and portable hose pumps can be supplied with different hoses - natural rubber, nitrile and CSM. Our hose pumps are ideal for viscous liquids, but also pump media such as:
- Lime slurry
- Slurry transport
- Abrasive (wearing) liquids with particles
- High viscosity and sticky liquids
Are you interested in a portable positive displacement pump? We offer portable pump types with diesel, electric or petrol engines. Also choose between connections such as threaded or camlock.
Good to consider when choosing a peristaltic pump for aggressive liquids
In industry, it is common to use hose pumps for aggressive liquids such as chemicals. When choosing the type of pump, it is good to keep the following in mind:
- The most important factors to consider are the material and quality of the hose. Natural rubber has the best fatigue strength and EPDM while Hypalon has the highest compatibility for chemical applications.
- Remember to avoid contamination or contact with parts other than the hose.
- A peristaltic pump can be run continuously, or at indexed speed (partial revolutions) to deliver small amounts of liquid and is therefore also widely used for dosing liquids. However, if you want accurate dosing, you should consider using either diaphragm pumps or piston diaphragm pumps.
One of the advantages of the peristaltic pump is that the pumped liquid only comes into contact with the inner surface of the hose. This avoids problems with valves, O-rings or other seals, which can be a problem with other positive displacement pumps. At the same time, the hose is also the weakest link in a hose pump.