Have You Used a Pump Today?

December 15, 2011

If you are reading this, then the answer is yes. Everyone uses some type of pump every day. Pumps are so commonly used that we hardly realize how important they are to us. A pump is any device that moves a fluid from one location to another.  Therefore if you have a heart, then you are using a pump at this very moment to pump blood throughout your body. Your heart pumps blood similar to a diaphragm pump and your arteries and intestines act like peristaltic pumps. Within your heart, muscle tissue displaces blood while valves help control the direction of blood flow, ensuring a consistent unidirectional flow of blood. Both arteries and veins have smooth muscle tissue to maintain the flow and pressure of blood moving throughout our bodies.  The smooth muscle tissue acts like the rollers of a peristaltic pump to contract arteries (like tubing) to move blood flow in a specific direction.

How Peristaltic Pumps Work:

Peristaltic pumps operate on a simple principle. The alternating pattern of squeezing and releasing the tubing moves the fluid through the pump. One of the many advantages offered by peristaltic pumps is the ability to isolate fluid within the tubing (much like our blood flow).

As a roller passes over the tubing, it is first occluded (squeezed), then released. The progression of this squeezed area Peristaltic Pump Rollersforces fluid to move in front of the roller. The tubing behind the rollers recovers its shape, creates a vacuum, and draws fluid in behind it. As the roller moves faster, vacuum pockets are created more quickly and the fluid moving through the system picks up speed. The rollers act as check valves to prevent siphoning or loss of prime.

The distance between the rollers creates a “pillow” of fluid. This volume is specific to the ID of the tubing and the geometry of the rotor. Flow rate is determined by multiplying pump head speed by the size of the pillow by the number of pillows per revolution. This pillow volume stays very constant except with highly viscous fluids. Among pumps with the same diameter of rotor, pumps with large pillows will deliver higher volumes of fluid per revolution. A greater degree of pulsation exists with these higher flow rates, not unlike the pumping profile of a diaphragm pump. Pumps with small pillows deliver small volumes of fluid per revolution.

Applications:

Using this knowledge of how peristaltic pumps transfer fluids through enclosed tubing, many entrepreneurs have found

MasterFlex B/T Tubing Pump

MasterFlex B/T Tubing Pump

ways to incorporate similar pump systems into their business.  One resourceful maple syrup producer in upper New York found a clever use for a peristaltic pump. Rascher’s Sugar House installed seven miles of food-grade plastic tubing running from maple trees on his property.  Rascher ordered a Masterflex® B/T® Variable-Speed Pump from Cole-Parmer and by using his peristaltic pump, he was able to pump maple sap from his trees, through the tubing, through filters, and into a holding tank.

We want to hear from you.  Have you used a pump today?  Please share your unique pump applications.


Job Posting Alert: Quality Assurance & Testing Analyst in Vernon Hills, IL

August 5, 2010

Position Summary:
Designs, develops, executes, and verifies test plans and tests cases for the Cole-Parmer Web sites and internal applications. Is responsible for designing, creating, maintaining, and updating technical documentation for the Cole-Parmer Web sites and internal applications. Configures, manages and maintains the automated testing tool.

Essential Functions:
1. Develops, executes, documents, manages and improves test plans for end-to-end testing.
2. Creates and executes test cases and ensure testing effectively validates that systems meet the functional and non-functional requirements. Documents and makes improvements on the test plans.
3. Manages test scripts used to operate automated testing software.
4. Ensures all issues are documented in the issue tracking system and follows up to ensure resolution by developer.
5. Modifies existing HTML pages, especially those that have other coding languages intertwined.
6. Works closely with the Product Management and eBusiness teams to facilitate resolution of errors and issues. Coordinates and conducts re-testing as necessary.
7. Communicates and collaborates with customers to establish partnerships for use cases, test data, and business scenarios.
8. Designs, creates, maintains, and updates technical documentation—including online help, user guides, design specifications and other documents.
9. Gathers information by studying existing materials and interviewing subject matter experts. Produces user facing documentation (trainings, tutorials) tailored to a particular audience.
10. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience.
• Experience with automated testing tools and regression testing techniques is preferred but not required.
Non-Negotiable Hiring Criteria:
1. Must possess the ability to work in a fast paced continual learning environment. This will require ongoing education (independent and structured) with the ability to quickly adapt and learn new technologies to solve business issues.
2. Must possess strong analytical skills to analyze data and compile reports as needed, identify defects and their root cause, and provide resolution support. Must be able to assimilate data and draw conclusions.
3. Must possess the communication skills to be able to assimilate and convey technical material in a concise and effective manner.
4. Must possess excellent presentation, facilitation and written skills to create and deliver training.
5. Must be able to work independently and be able to work in a team atmosphere.
6. Must possess excellent interpersonal skills to relate well with different levels of the organization, and work cooperatively with internal & external business partners.
7. Must possess the organizational, planning and multi-tasking skills to manage and execute multiple projects concurrently to successful completion, meet deadlines, and follow-up in a timely manner.Must be proficient in basic Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook and Access.

Working Conditions:
• Office environment / cubicle workstation.
• Sits at workstation for extended periods of time and uses a keyboard and mouse to interact with computer system.
• Frequently uses phone to converse with business partners.
• Frequent writing and reading.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not an exhaustive list of all of the duties and responsibilities associated with it.

Apply for the job.

RB20100208-97497
“We are an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer”


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