Metering pump vs peristaltic pump
Quick answer: Choose a metering (plunger or diaphragm) pump for continuous industrial dosing, higher pressure (up to several hundred bar for plunger types) and long life with low running cost. Choose a peristaltic pump for low pressure, slurries or shear-sensitive liquids and small flows, accepting regular tube replacement.
| Metering pump (plunger / diaphragm) | Peristaltic pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Working principle | Reciprocating displacement with check valves | Rollers squeeze a flexible tube |
| Discharge pressure | High: diaphragm typically up to ~20 bar, plunger much higher | Low: typically a few bar |
| Accuracy | High, repeatable (API 675 types around ±1%) | Good, but drifts as the tube wears |
| Wear parts | Diaphragm, packing, valve balls (long intervals) | Tube (frequent replacement) |
| Slurries / solids | Limited; needs suitable valves | Very good |
| Flow range | Very wide, from a few LPH to thousands of LPH | Small to medium |
| Best for | Water treatment, chemical, refinery, boiler and cooling dosing | Labs, slurries, food, low-pressure dosing |
Questions
Is a peristaltic pump a metering pump?
A peristaltic pump can meter liquids, but in industry "metering pump" usually means a plunger or diaphragm positive displacement pump with check valves, built for higher pressure and continuous duty.
Which is cheaper to run, a metering pump or a peristaltic pump?
Metering pumps usually cost less to run in continuous industrial duty because diaphragms and packings last much longer than peristaltic tubes.
Which pump fits your duty?
Send chemical, flow and pressure for a recommendation.
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