Research and manufacturing labs from all fields rely on precise, consistent fluid transfer for incredibly diverse applications. Most labs are familiar with the challenges—like pulsation, leaks, and labor-intensive upkeep—and trade-offs of conventional pump technologies. Labs traditionally need to choose between important needs, such as accuracy and precision or continuous flow, safe handling of hazardous liquids or flexibility and adaptability, high reproducibility or easy maintenance and operation. Advancements in pump technology provide consistent, precise performance across various processes with minimal setup and maintenance to meet the rigorous demands of research and industry.
Problems with fluid transfer can range in impact from inconvenient to catastrophic. Labor-intensive set-up or maintenance can be disruptive and strain lab resources, negatively impacting productivity and operating costs. Inconsistent flow rates reduce reproducibility. Malfunctions can lead to high material waste and lost time, especially if work must be repeated. In addition to downtime, leaks can form major safety hazards.
Syringe pumps can provide high precision and accuracy, but require considerable hands-on time. Traditional diaphragm pumps can operate for long periods with no capacity limits, but typically cause pulsing flow that reduces control and the quality and reliability of results. Highly reactive chemicals and delicate samples both rely on fully sealed systems to protect operators and materials.
Advanced diaphragm pump technology addresses these challenges across industries, sectors, and applications with smooth, continuous flow and easy setup and maintenance. It enables lab managers to achieve higher standards of safety, efficiency, and productivity in their operations.
Download this article with accompanying case studies and a five-minute maintenance checklist now to learn about the solutions that:
- Improve lab safety with features that protect both the user and the integrity of the sample for safe and reliable handling of sensitive and hazardous substances.
- Enhance precision and reproducibility with pulsation-free consistent, long-term continuous flow
- Simplify set-up and maintenance tasks for tool-free parts replacement and pump head changes to increase efficiency and reliability
- Safeguard processes from issues like overpressure or pressure loss conditions or power disruptions
- Enable demanding applications like micro-drops for synthesis tests, organic synthesis with air- or water-reactive chemicals, and liquid transfer with long-term, spectroscopic measurements
Tacmina-LM Q-Series Article
Improve Safety, Reliability,
and Function with New Fluidics Innovations
Pulsation-free pump technology boosts precision and safety in fluid handling
F
rom jean manufacturers handling dye synthesis to alcohol distillers making aged bourbon, and electric vehicle battery manufacturers, pumps can be found
in very diverse settings. Finding a pump that works for a variety of different processes with minimal setup and maintenance while adhering to reproducibility levels required for compliance can be like finding a needle in a
haystack. However, new pump designs can fulfill many of these needs simultaneously, making them a solution for the wide range of research and development needs facing today's scientists. As Jim Feltman, the Vice President of
Tacmina USA Corporation, said, "The pump should be the
least of anyone's worries … It should be a physical device that is easy to program and implement in a safe way."
ACCURACY AND REPRODUCIBILITY
These two elements constitute major pillars of good science. However, when running experiments with pumps, researchers can be faced with a lack of control and preci- sion. Flow rate inconsistencies can compromise research integrity, especially in dosing or synthesis experiments.
Implementing precise control mechanisms and feedback systems improves reproducibility and accuracy, strength- ening the robustness of results.
A shift from batch production underscores the critical requirement for dependable and flexible pump setups in experiments. Labs that embrace improved flow rate control and stable long-term performance will ensure the reliabili- ty of their experiments.
?With a consistent flow rate and simple operation, new pump de- signs contribute to improved accuracy and reliability.
PULSATION IN THE LAB
Diaphragm pumps use a flexible barrier that moves back and forth to create suction and discharge fluid. Howev-
er, this reciprocating movement leads to a pulsing flow of fluid, which is impractical for experiments requiring continuous and smooth fluid flow. Inlet and outlet valves can exacerbate this pulsation issue, adding to the uneven movement of fluid.
To mitigate pulsation, lab staff often use air chambers or dampeners. However, these solutions can introduce new challenges including loss of control and additional main- tenance. Alternative pump technologies have emerged to address these problems without the drawbacks of cham- bers and dampeners. These new designs offer improved reliability and affordability. The nature of technology and equipment is one of continual improvement, with different needs adding potential expenditures such as revalidation or recertification.
PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY
Labs are under tremendous pressure to continually increase throughput while reducing costs and maintain- ing high standards. The added labor and materials costs associated with pump maintenance, training, and service calls are a drain on already-stretched resources, and slow
overall lab productivity. Because of these demands, labs need a pump that is designed with ease of use and training in mind. Learned skills needed to run and maintain lab equipment can cost the lab considerably, especially when there is also a need for cross-training for adequate cover- age, onboarding, and refresher training.
New pump models feature low-maintenance technology that emphasizes quick checks and easy repairs. In contrast to traditional pumps' time intensive maintenance tasks such as managing oil changes, disassembling pumps to replace membranes, and conducting other routine main- tenance, the tasks are less labor and time intensive in new pump models, and can be completed quickly by non-ex- perts. This is because these models are simple to maintain, with infrequent maintenance needs, straightforward rou- tines, and reliable operation mechanisms. They incorpo- rate modular components that can be quickly detached or replaced without the need to extensively disassemble the entire unit, as each part of the pump is a distinct section. Tool-free access and quick-release connections also enable easy access without requiring specialized tools or exper- tise. These design features enhance lab productivity and efficiency while conserving resources.
?Some pump models require no special tools to change the pump head or remove it for easy cleaning and maintenance.
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES REQUIRE ADDITIONAL MEASURES
For labs working with volatile or hazardous chemicals or sensitive samples, safety is of utmost importance. Contam- ination, leaks, exposure to air/moisture, and incompatible materials coming into contact during experimentation
can increase the risk of an accident resulting in injuries or lab or sample damage. Equipment with enhanced safety
measures like sealed systems and automated pressure ad- justments and release valves is even more important when handling hazardous samples.
Smoothflow pumps have embedded measures to protect users, the equipment, and the sample while working with any type of substance, including:
Remote control from an intelligent device
Overpressure protection integrated into pumps to prevent overpressure situations can also alert the user if pressure has exceeded the safety limits, and can also have an added feature of excess pressure release
Options for specific materials that are compatible with experimental substances, reducing the risk of chemical reactions or degradation that could compromise safety
BENEFITS IN PRACTICE: THE
Q-SERIES SMOOTHFLOW PUMP
The Q-Series Smoothflow pumps offer scalable flow rates ranging from 1 microliter to 100 milliliters per minute, ensuring versatility and providing pulsation-free continuous flow. These pumps feature a precision motor, offering exceptional control for advanced safety measures and smooth daily operations.
Repeatability is within plus/minus one tenth of a percent of flow rate, configurable to 1 microliter per minute. The pumps are designed with a simple inner setup to reduce wear and maintain accuracy, resulting in a long service life and low operating costs. They can be constructed using specific materials to meet a variety of lab needs, such as Hastelloy for pharmaceutical applications.
Setting up and calibrating the Q-Series pumps is straightforward, and their pump heads, available in dif- ferent materials, can be quickly swapped to accommodate changing liquid requirements.
Designed for durability and simplicity in use, the pumps require maintenance checks only every 4,000 hours of run
?The Tacmina Q-Series Smoothflow Pump.
time, with a simple maintenance routine that takes just
5-10 minutes. Training on these pumps can be completed in 10 minutes and conducted on-site or using custom train- ing videos that can be stored for future reference.
Safety features of the Q-Series pumps include internal protection to prevent overpressure, and they are not dam- aged by running dry, eliminating risks of galling, seizing, and excessive wear. In the case of a blockage, the pump pauses until fixed, then resumes from the same point, avoiding costly experimental repeats. A two-second power switch delay mitigates accidental power loss, preventing pressure loss and experiment failure.
Thith a commitment to efficiency and noise reduction, the distinctively pink Q-Series Smoothflow pumps are used in a diverse range of labs, including electric vehi- cle battery, specialty chemical, pesticide and herbicide, flow cytometry, and cellular biology labs. The Q-Series Smoothflow pumps represent an evolution towards
smarter, more efficient laboratory equipment, empowering researchers with innovative solutions.
To learn more, visit: www.tacminausa.com
Five Minute Maintenance Checklist for Smoothflow Pumps
Ensure peak performance and longevity with these quick and easy maintenance steps
Smoothflow Pumps are essential for ensuring precise and reliable fluid management, but even the best equipment needs regular care to perform optimally. This five-minute maintenance checklist simplifies this task into five straightforward steps, making it easy for you to keep your pumps in top condition without interrupting your workflow. Follow these quick tips to extend the life of your pumps and maintain the accuracy of your results.
Remove pump head (tool-less)
Separate plates, clean if necessary
Install maintenance parts kit (3 parts)
Stack plates and mount pump head
Done!
4
case
01
Major chemical manufacturer
SmoothFlow Pumps in Action: Case Studies
Easy and accurate dispensing of micro-drops not easily achieved with syringe pumps
The chemical (BuLi) is supplied to a microreactor during tests of organic synthesis.
Strict control of the reaction required Liquid should not be exposed to air
Transferring with no crystallization of the liquid needed
Solution!
Continuous, constant flow with no pulsation for precise liquid transfer
Sealed structure means no liquid leakage
Transferring without crystallization
Customer's needs and problems
case
02
National university
Continuous synthesis with water-reactive butyllithium
Customer's needs and problems
Isocyanate is dripped into alcohol in urethane synthesis tests.
Conventional system with syringe pumps
Excessive time required for pump preparation
Flow rate changes over time
Solution!
Accurate configuration of drip amount
Easy preparation and configuration of flow rate settings
Constant flow rate even during long-term continuous operation
Customer's needs and problems
A solution containing a photocatalyst is transferred, and X-rays are applied to observe atomic reactions.
Transferring of organic solvents required Data quality reduced due to pulsation
Excessive use of precious sample solution
Solution!
case
03
National research institute
Stable transfer of sample solution ensures accurate observation data
Organic solvents including pharmaceutical materials are transferred with a pump, and measurement is performed with spectroscopy.
Need for long-term, continuous measurement
Limited syringe pump capacity
Pump adjustments take too much effort
Solution!
Long-term, stable liquid transfer
No limits on liquid transfer amounts Reduced adjustment time required
Customer's needs and problems
case
04
Private university
Ability for long-term, spectroscopic measurements that were not possible with syringe pumps
Liquid-end materials designed for organic solvents
Continuous, constant flow with no pulsation
Testing with small amounts of liquid
