Improving the operational efficiency of the linear type peristaltic pump

The paper investigates the effect on the linear peristaltic pump operation of the properties of the material of its elastic tube, the algorithm of actuation of the release elements, as well as the presence of irregularities in the inlet and outlet sections of the pump in the form of alternating confusers and sudden expansions. To study the influence of these factors, a series of numerical experiments was carried out using the universal software STAR-CCM +, where the pump operation was simulated by a joint calculation of the fluid flow and elastic deformations of its tube. As a result of numerical experiments for a number of values of Poisson's ratio, it was found that the material of the pump tube must be selected with the lowest possible Poisson's ratio in order to obtain the highest efficiency. The study of possible algorithms for the actuation of the release elements of the pump showed that in order to obtain the maximum efficiency, the pump operation mode should be selected in accordance with the drive design. The drive, where energy is expended only on the movement of the release elements, requires the mode with the first release elements to hold the tube in a compressed state longer, which provides a higher feed value. For the drive, where energy is spent on maintaining the tube in a compressed state, the preferred mode is the one with the delay in the return of the release element to its original state is minimal. As a result of studying the influence of sections with irregularities, it was found that the use of the height and pitch of irregularities, when the ratio of the resistances of these sections in the forward and reverse flow is optimal, leads to a decrease in the flow and pressure of pump.

peristaltic pump, laminar flow, computational fluid dynamics, unsteady flow