Peristaltic pumping of a particulate suspension in a catheterized tube

Abstract

Peristaltic pumping of a particle-fluid suspension in a catheterized circular tube has been investigated. The coupled differential equations for both the fluid and the particle phases have been solved and the expressions for the flow rate, pressure drop, friction forces at the tube and the catheter wall have been derived. It is found that the pressure drop increases with the flow rate for any given particle concentration, catheter size and amplitude ratio. Also for any given flow rate and the catheter size, pressure drop increases with the particle concentration, and assumes significantly higher magnitude in a catheterized tube than its corresponding value in uncatheterized tube. The friction forces (at tube as well as the catheter wall) possess characteristics similar to the pressure drop (an opposite characteristics to the pressure rise) with respect to any parameter. The friction force at the tube wall is found to be significantly higher in magnitude than the corresponding friction force at the catheter wall