Development of a peristaltic pump based on bowel peristalsis improvement of closing area rates and suction pressure measurement

A pump capable of transporting high-viscosity fluids and solid-liquid mixtures is required in various industrial settings, include cement plants, sewage treatment plants and food plants. In addition, growing demand in the medical field. Turbine-type pumps, piston-type pumps and squeeze-type pumps are often used to transport high-viscosity fluids and solid-liquid mixture. However, these types of pumps have disadvantages. Turbine-type pumps cannot exert a high discharge pressure and turbine damage caused by stone; piston-type pumps are usually considerably large, because high pressure is needed to transport large quantities of fluid; squeeze-type pumps are a large and complex equipment. Furthermore, it can be difficult to arrange the bent pipes required by these systems because of high friction between the fluid and the pipe walls. Hence, an innovative transport system is desired. In this paper, we focus on bowel peristalsis as a model for a mechanism that can transport fluids, such as sludge with little water. We developed a peristaltic pump based on the bowel mechanism by using an artificial rubber muscle, and confirmed its capabilities. In addition, we develop new tube to achieve a perfect close of the tube, and confirm the basic characteristics of the new tube. Finally, we measure the suction pressure and confirm the perfect close of the tube.