When Peristaltic Pumps Are Not the Best Choice: Key Limitations Explained

Peristaltic pumps are popular in laboratories, food production, pharmaceuticals, and water treatment because of their cleanliness and ease of use. However, despite these strengths, they are not ideal for every fluid-handling situation. This article explores the drawbacks of peristaltic pumps from an engineering and operational perspective, helping you decide when another pump technology may be a better match.

1. Consumable Tubing = Higher Long-Term Cost

One of the main disadvantages of peristaltic pumps is that the tubing acts as the primary wear component. Because the pump squeezes the tube thousands of times per hour, its lifespan is limited.

Factors that accelerate wear include:

• High motor speed
• High pressure
• Chemical incompatibility
• Continuous-duty cycles

Over time, replacing tubing becomes a recurring cost and requires regular shutdowns for maintenance.

2. Flow Pulsation Limits Precision

Unlike gear pumps or piston pumps, peristaltic pumps deliver fluid in discrete volumes as rollers move along the tube. This pulsating output can create challenges in applications such as:

• High-precision microdosing
• Chromatography
• Optical instrumentation
• Pressure-sensitive processes

Even with multi-roller pump heads, pulsation cannot be entirely eliminated.

3. Restricted Pressure and Suction Performance

Peristaltic pumps typically operate within limited pressure ranges (usually 1–6 bar depending on the model). Pushing them beyond these limits can result in:

• Deformation of the tube
• Motor overload
• Drastically shortened tube life
• Inaccurate dosing

They also offer lower suction lift compared with diaphragm or piston pumps, restricting their use in deep-well or vacuum-required tasks.

4. Size Increases Significantly at Higher Flow Rates

For applications requiring high throughput, a peristaltic pump must use larger tubing and a larger pump head, which leads to:

• Bigger footprint
• Higher noise levels
• More power consumption
• Increased mechanical vibration

At a certain point, other pump designs become more compact and cost-effective.

5. Heat Build-Up During Continuous Operation

The roller-on-tube mechanism generates friction, which builds up heat inside the pump head. If not managed properly, this can cause:

• Tube softening
• Reduced elasticity
• Shortened service life
• Performance instability

This makes the pump less suitable for heavy continuous-duty cycles unless high-quality tubing and proper cooling measures are in place.

6. Limited Compatibility With Extremely Abrasive or Viscous Fluids

While peristaltic pumps resist corrosion very well, they do not perform equally well with:

• Highly abrasive slurries
• Thick gels
• Extremely viscous oils or polymers

Such fluids may grind the tubing surface or cause excessive drag, leading to early failure.

Conclusion

Peristaltic pumps are effective for clean, controlled, low-to-moderate-pressure applications, but they are not universal solutions. Their disadvantages — tubing wear, pulsed flow, pressure limits, heat build-up, and restricted fluid compatibility — must be evaluated against process requirements. Understanding these limitations ensures you choose the right pump technology for reliable and long-term operation.