Design and development of a peristaltic pump

Abstract

Pumps are used in nature and engineering for a variety of purposes, such as the transportation of several fluids, particles, and mixtures. Peristaltic pumping is one such form of fluid transport which occurs when a progressing wave of tube contraction or expansion travels along the length of a flexible tube containing a fluid, and by extension, peristaltic pumps are positive displacement pumps used in liquid transport. These pumps have the advantages of not contaminating the carried liquid, their fabrication is not demanding and they prove convenient for the transport of shear sensitive and abrasive fluids. The aim of this project is to review and summarize the most important properties of these pumps, followed by an analytical analysis of the flow characteristics within these pumps and finally to carry out an experimental verification of these characteristics. A literature review of relevant work provides an understanding of the construction, basic principle of working and pump design methodologies of different types of peristaltic pumps. The advantages and critical applications are also discussed. The literature on the fluid flow analytics of peristaltic pumps is also studied. This study goes over the nature of flow within peristaltic pumps, the mathematical reasoning behind peristalsis and the various structural and environmental factors which affect the nature of the flow, as well as the reasons which motivated this research in the first place. In order to further explore and confirm these flow characteristics, an experimental analysis is conducted. The review of the construction and applications of peristaltic pumps aids in selecting an appropriate pump for the required analysis. The operation of the selected pump is observed and evaluated. The reliability and precision of the pump in non-continuous operation mode is also tested. A reprogrammable capability is provided to the pump in order to vary the delay between continuous ejections based on any required dosing precision. Keywords: Peristalsis, Microfluidics, Pump Design, Flow Characteristics