Fluid Metering Offers Video Assistance

At Fluid Metering, Inc. we have been dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality valveless metering pumps, and the best service for over 55 years.  Our metering pumps and dispensers are the industry standard for accuracy, precision, and durability, and are used for numerous applications in many industries.  To provide the best service for our customers we have created numerous videos that show how our products work, as well as offer technical support to assist you with any issues you may have.  Below are some examples.

Fluid Metering Technology Videos

This video is a 3D animation of how our valveless metering pumps work.  It shows the design and the components of the pump including the fact that it contains only one moving part which accomplishes all fluid control functions.   The video also highlights the sapphire-hard ceramic internals which are wear resistant and chemically inert.

The above video highlights the unique “One Pump Does It All” ability of our FMI CeramPump®.  This technology is the solution to a variety of fluid control requirements including aspirating, dispensing, and continuous metering.  Useful in applications including hydroponic farming and the medical and laboratory science fields, this pump will improve your accuracy and efficiency.

Precision is very important when it comes to metering pumps and dispensers.  Our products offer a high degree of accuracy for use in a wide range of medical, laboratory, analytical and industrial process applications.  In the above video we show an actual precision test that proves that Fluid Metering Technology is the best on the market.

Making sure the proper safety precautions are taken when operating a pump is essential.  In the above video our Fluid Metering Team member offers some safety precaution tips.  These include some of the safety clothing that should be worn and the checking of the MSDS manual for chemical information for the chemicals that will be used in the pump.

Tech Support Videos

Along with the above videos, the Fluid Metering Inc. website includes a section of tech support videos which demonstrate how to install a FMI pump head, how to replace piston pump lip seals, and how to identify the pumps serial number.  Our goal is to provide the best support for our customers, and along with these videos we also offer Live Chat Support for a direct connection to Fluid Metering’s experts.  For more information on how our products can meet your requirements please contact us.

Valveless Ceramic Pumps Provide Essential Nutrients for Hydroponic Farming

Most people know that plants are grown in soil to take full advantage of the nutrients available.  In some climates this is not possible, so alternative farming methods had to be created. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in a water based, nutrient rich solution that does not use soil.  Instead the root system is supported using an inert medium such as perlite, rockwool, clay pellets, peat moss or vermiculite. A constant flow of water must be delivered to the roots in this system and pumps are needed to accomplish this.

Crystallization Issues

The proprietary nutrient formulations used by hydroponic farmers contain a variety of minerals that tend to crystallize.  This can create problems in metering pump technologies that rely on check valves or flexible peristaltic tubing. Crystallization would eventually cause the check valves to fail and the hardened crystals would cause the elastomer tubing to break down. This would prevent vital nutrients reaching the plants which many times are unattended for several weeks at a time.

Valveless Ceramic Pumps

Valveless Pump Solution

The CeramPump Valveless Piston Pump from Fluid Metering, Inc. meets all the needs of the hydroponic farming industry.  It utilizes only one moving part in the fluid path which accomplishes both the pumping and valving functions, which eliminates check valves and the associated reliability and maintenance concerns.  The CeramPump also has internal components made of sapphire-hard ceramics which are chemical inert, dimensionally-stable and abrasion-resistant which limits the chance of pump failure.  To make sure that fluid crystallization is not an issue; the CeramPump is also available with a special wash gland feature which essentially isolates crystal forming fluids from the atmosphere.

FMI’s CeramPump has been successfully used in hydroponic farming for the growing of endives, which are grown unattended for 21 days in the dark.  Also flowering plants grown from bulbs are an additional area where FMI’s Valveless Piston pump can deliver nutrient and mineral enriched formulations accurately and maintenance free, even when left unattended for extended periods of time.

For more information on how FMI’s valveless metering pump technology can meet your hydroponic needs, please reach out to product specialist’s here.

The Importance of Denitrification of Effluent Wastewater

Water is the one of the most important resources on planet Earth.  It is vital that we protect the quality of our water, and make sure it is safe for everyone who needs it throughout the world.  At Fluid Metering Inc. we understand the seriousness of making sure water is treated properly, and offer valveless piston pumps for the complete denitrification of effluent wastewater.  The amount of fresh water that is available on our planet is limited, so it is important to treat it properly.

Hazards of Nitrogen in Untreated Wastewater Effluent

In untreated wastewater effluent, nitrogen is present that in high concentrations can pose major environmental concerns when released into bays and watersheds.  As nitrogen is an end-product of the bacterial metabolism of ammonia, it can deplete dissolved oxygen in receiving water.  It also stimulates the growth of aquatic plant and algae growth which causes hypoxia and also blocks sunlight from reaching submerged marine life which creates a condition known as eutrophication.  Nitrate compounds in drinking water can also cause the human health condition known as methemoglobinemia which alters the oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin.  Due to these hazards, it is important that the levels of nitrogen created during the wastewater treatment process be reduced before the effluent is discharged into the environment.

Effluent denitrification system

Denitrification Using Methanol

Using a process known as denitrification, water facilities convert the excess nitrates into nitrogen gas, which is then vented into the atmosphere instead of being released into waterways.  One of the most cost-effective denitrification options is with the use of methanol.  Methanol is used in wastewater applications as the carbon source that breaks down the nitrates.  Because methanol is volatile, wastewater treatment facilities need specific metering pumps that are specially designed to dispense the chemical.  Our CeramPump® line of valveless metering pumps is ideally suited for this.  Constructed from inert and corrosion resistant ceramic parts, with only one moving part in the fluid path, it is highly reliable and extremely precise with an output variation of only ±1% of set value.  The use of sapphire-hard, dimensionally stable, ceramic internal components allows precision manufacturing with tight clearances and the elimination of multiple check valves provides a metering pump that can self-prime down to the micro-liter range and never lose prime.

WEFTEC 2016

This year we will be at WEFTEC 2016 in New Orleans, LA from September 26-28.  This is the premier water quality conference for professionals looking for water quality solutions and the latest industry innovations focusing on protecting our water and environmental resources.  At booth #7416 our product experts will be on hand displaying our unique valveless pump technology and answering questions.  For more information visit our tradeshow section or contact us.

Valveless Piston Pumps are Ideal for Hydrogen Peroxide Metering

At Fluid Metering, Inc. our valveless, ceramic metering pumps have proven to be reliable, useful pieces of machinery that are effective across a wide range of industries.  For applications that need a precise dose, over millions of repeating cycles, without regular need for repair or recalibration, the best choice available are our valveless ceramic metering pumps.

pump

Working with Hydrogen Peroxide

One area where our pumps excel is in metering concentrated hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is used across a variety of applications, including:

  • Use during the aseptic packaging process for a variety of foods and products
  • Low-temperature sterilization for clean rooms and hospital operating rooms
  • Component and instrument sterilization
  • Sporicidal activity
  • Cosmetic applications including hair and teeth bleaching
  • Production of sodium percarbonate and sodium perborate

Unreliable or imprecise metering of hydrogen peroxide can lead to issues.  These include failure to properly sterilize, or an overdose of hydrogen peroxide that could cause contamination.

Our pumps utilize a ceramic piston as the only moving part, meaning that it is the only moving part that is in contact with the fluid. We use ceramic because it is chemically inert and dimensionally stable, which ensures that over time it can withstand chemicals, as well as any wear and tear. The pumps use our CeramPump® pumping principle that uses the ceramic piston for both pumping and valving functions, allowing for a compact design that does not require check valves. This in turn reduces the need for maintenance, while allowing for the precision you require without a need for regular recalibration.

Of course, working with hydrogen peroxide is not the only way that our metering pumps can be used. At Fluid Metering, Inc., we provide a variety of pumps, available in a wide range of laboratory, production, process, and OEM instrumentation applications and can help you figure out the right pump for your need. Simple, complex, fixed, or variable, we can help you choose the correct equipment, including hazardous duty pumps.

“One Pump Does it All”

At Fluid Metering Inc., we strive to create quality products that will fulfill the needs of our customers.  Our pumps and dispensers are used for many applications including industrial automation, medical instrumentation, laboratory R&D, and water treatment.  One of the main reasons our products are used for these applications is their versatility.  Our FMI CeramPump® technology provides this versatility, and is the solution to a wide range of fluid control challenges. We have a “One Pump Does it All ” philosophy at Fluid Metering and can provide the results you need for your fluid control.

One dispenser and pump for all OEM applications is a reality with our CeramPump® technology.  With just one pump you can fulfill fluid control requirements such as aspirating, dispensing, continuous metering or a combination of all three, without having to switch or change your equipment.  The valveless syringing will both aspirate and dispense a sterile fluid without any contamination.  It can also flush and wash fluid at a rate of 0-2,000 ml / min.  The pump is capable of continuous dispensing and metering and can be programmed to the dispensing rate you would like.  With this technology productivity will be increased, as this pump will handle multiple tasks that in the past required numerous pieces of equipment.

Fluid Metering works to provide solutions for all fluid control needs.  Our highly trained sales and technical support staff is available to help choose the solution that is best for you.  We are certified under ISO 9001:2008 certification criteria, and work to provide the highest quality valveless metering pumps.  To learn more about our “One Pump Does it All” philosophy, visit our website.  Also follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest product and company news.

Solving the Mystery of How our Valveless Piston Pumps Work

At Fluid Metering Inc., we’ve been on the forefront of metering pump and dispenser design for over half a century. Adding to our list of achievements is our patented CeramPump® line of valveless piston pumps represents true innovation in metering pump technology. The design is valveless because it utilizes one moving part to provide both the metering and valving functions. With a design as groundbreaking as this we get a lot of questions such as, “how does it work?” and “what makes it better than other pump technologies?” To answer these questions, we released a new video featuring a 3D animation of the metering and dosing action so customers can see exactly how our pump works and learn how it can benefit their application.

How It Works

The valveless design uses just one moving part to accomplish all fluid control tasks. It consists of a piston with simultaneous, synchronous rotating and reciprocating action. A flat is machined onto the piston, as it rotates within the flow the flat acts as the valve opening and closing the inlet and outlet ports of the pump. At the same time, the reciprocating action provides the pumping function. The metering flow rate is from 0-100% and is adjusted by setting the angle of the pump head relative to the drive. The adjustment varies the piston stroke length, and in turn, the volume pumped per stroke.

The internal components are composed of sapphire-hard ceramic which delivers a high level of dimensional stability. This means high precision dosing, extreme wear resistance, and chemically inert characteristics.

Benefits of a Valveless Pump

The unique technology of the valveless pump means that customers will receive a more accurate pump, with a longer service life, that won’t need to be recalibrated. Traditional metering systems utilize valves and many more moving parts that wear overtime, even during normal operation. This means that recalibration and system failure is a way of life. Users must keep spare parts on hand and track wear and calibration activities to ensure uninterrupted service.

Our valveless design has fewer moving parts which equal less wear, and less wear means less downtime. Because ceramic parts are more wear resistant than other materials, our pumps can last for millions of dispenses providing the same precision every time. CeramPump® metering pumps are ideal for R&D laboratory, instrumentation, industrial process, and environmental applications. To find the pump that best suits your application, visit our website or contact us directly. We also post more Fluid Metering news on our Twitter and LinkedIn pages.

Precision Fluid Dispensing at the MD&M Medical Design Exhibition in New York City

Throughout the year Fluid Metering , Inc. (FMI) exhibits at a variety of trade shows which showcase our unique valveless metering technology.  Our interactive display at these shows is staffed by experienced application personnel dedicated to provide solutions for process, production and OEM fluid control applications. On June 10-12 FMI will be exhibiting at the Medical Design & Manufacturing East Exhibition (MD&M East) at the Javits Center in New York City to demonstrate the benefits of our metering pumps.

One such benefit of our metering pumps for the medical industry is its unique ability to meet the challenge of precision production dispensing of bonding fluids used for assembly of disposable medical components.  These single use components include syringes, IV tubing sets, catheters, and blood collection assemblies, just to name a few.  Common bonding agents include a variety of adhesive formulations, as well as using solvents to chemically “weld” polymer components together. No matter which process is chosen, accurate dispensing is critical to the overall quality and integrity of the finished disposable assembly, as well as the overall function of device or instrument with which it is used.

Fluid Metering’s precision CeramPump® was developed to answer just this challenge and offers a pump head with internal components made from chemically inert, sapphire-hard ceramics. These pump heads are ideal for dispensing cyclohexanone, cyanoacrylates, UV curable adhesives, and 2-part epoxy bonding agents used to manufacture disposable medical components.

To learn more about how Fluid Metering’s valveless pump can help you, visit booth #765 at the Javits Center or visit our website to live chat with an FMI application specialist. The application described above can be found in greater detail in an article published in the May edition of Medical Design Briefs also located on the FMI web site at this link.