Classic Pulsation Dampening in Peristaltic Hose System
Industry Served: Water Treatment
Problem:
A municipal water treatment facility in California was using peristaltic pumps to dose polymer. Smooth, steady flow is critical for accurate chemical metering.
However, due to the pulsation inherent in peristaltic/hose pumps, the system experienced significant pressure spikes ranging from 0 to 70 PSI on each cycle. This caused highly erratic flow behavior, making the polymer difficult to control and dose accurately.
The inconsistent flow negatively impacted process performance and made precise chemical dosing unreliable.
Solution:
To stabilize the system, a BLACOH pulsation dampener was installed and properly charged to approximately 80% of the system pressure.
By comparing system operation with and without the dampener:
• The untreated pump showed large pressure fluctuations and unstable flow
• The pump equipped with the dampener exhibited significantly reduced pulsation
The dampener absorbed pressure spikes at the source, smoothing the discharge flow and converting the erratic output into a consistent, steady flow profile.
Result:
With pulsation effectively controlled, the polymer dosing system achieved stable and accurate performance.
Key Outcomes
• Elimination of extreme pressure spikes
• Smooth, steady flow at the dosing point
• Improved accuracy and control of polymer injection
• Increased process stability and performance
The result is a reliable dosing system that delivers consistent chemical feed. This demonstrates the critical role pulsation control plays in peristaltic pump applications.