Common Causes of Peristaltic Pump Tubing Failure

Peristaltic pump tubing is an essential component in peristaltic pump systems. Let's explore some common issues that can occur with peristaltic pump tubing.

1. Phenomenon: The tubing appears to be cut by a knife, leaving a sharp cut.

Cause: This is usually caused by the tubing being cut by the rotor and flange of the peristaltic pump head. This type of damage is often caused by excessive tubing length inside the pump head, causing the tubing to rub against the flange of the rotor during operation. This continuous friction and cutting can lead to rapid tubing failure, often within ten minutes. Tubing debris can also be found inside the pump. Solution: 1. Ensure that the tubing is pulled straight inside the pump head when installing it, avoiding any excess tubing. 2. Use specialized plastic clamps at the tubing inlet and outlet near the pump head to prevent the tubing from loosening and shifting during operation.

2. Phenomenon: The tubing is completely flattened, loses elasticity, and the tube wall becomes thin with severe wear.

Cause: This is usually caused by a jammed rotor, impurities on the surface of the pump pressure block or rotor that come into contact with the tubing, or excessive rotational speed. When the rotor of the peristaltic pump head is jammed, it directly scrapes against the tubing, increasing friction and causing the tubing surface temperature to rise significantly. This can lead to wear and tear on the tubing surface, and excessive temperatures (over 140°C) can cause the tubing to lose elasticity or even melt and deform.

Solution: Check if the rotor of the peristaltic pump head rotates flexibly; clean the surface of the pump pressure tube; and reduce the operating speed of the peristaltic pump.

3. Phenomenon: The peristaltic pump tubing becomes brittle, hard, loses elasticity, changes color, swells, and breaks.

Cause: The tubing is incompatible with the fluid being pumped, causing corrosion or dissolution of the tubing.

Solution: Select a tubing material that is not corroded or dissolved by the fluid being pumped. Refer to chemical compatibility test data to accurately select the tubing. Alternatively, conduct immersion tests with tubing samples to determine if the tubing is resistant to the fluid.