Minin piston pumps and micro diaphragm pumps are two common small electric air pumps. They also have some differences in principles, application scenarios, advantages and disadvantages.

Mini piston pump:

Principle: The working principles of mini piston pumps and micro diaphragm pumps are similar. They are both positive displacement pumps, which use the reciprocating motion of the piston/diaphragm driven by the motor to change the volume of the pump chamber, and with the cooperation of the one-way valve, to inhale and To discharge fluid, their main purpose is that the pump chamber of a mini piston pump is composed of a piston and a cylinder, while the pump chamber of a diaphragm pump is composed of an elastic rubber diaphragm.

advantage:

A rigid piston is used to compress fluid, so it has a higher working pressure than a diaphragm pump, and the pressure can usually reach 300-800kPa or even more than 1MPa;

Fewer internal elastomeric elements result in a more linear fluid performance curve.

shortcoming:

It is not a completely airtight structure, and the wear and tear caused by the piston working time can further reduce the airtightness, so it is not suitable for occasions requiring high airtightness, such as the transmission of toxic and harmful gases;

Compared with the diaphragm pump, its maximum working life is shorter due to the movement and wear of the piston, and its continuous working life is usually 2000-5000hrs;

Usually it can only be used to transfer gases, not liquids.

Micro diaphragm pump:

Principle: The reciprocating motion of the diaphragm in the pump body is used to change the volume of the pump chamber, and the principle of a positive displacement pump is used to inhale and discharge fluid. It is usually driven by a motor.

advantage:

It can be used to transmit gas or liquid, and has good self-priming and dry running performance;

The diaphragm pump chamber made of rubber has excellent air tightness and can be used to transmit toxic, harmful and corrosive media or in situations with high sealing requirements;

Mechanical wear is small during operation, and it has a longer maintenance-free operating life compared to mini piston pumps, usually up to more than 10,000 hrs;

Broad chemical compatibility can be achieved by using different diaphragm and check valve materials;

Lower operating noise.

shortcoming:

Elastic rubber diaphragm is used, so the output pressure is lower than that of the mini piston pump, and the pressure that can usually be operated for a long time does not exceed 200kPa.

Based on the analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the above two different types of pumps, we can know that although mini piston pumps and micro diaphragm pumps are similar in principle, they still have different characteristics and application orientations. Simply put, when high sealing and corrosion resistance are required, Diaphragm pumps are generally better than mini piston pumps in situations where performance, long life, and liquid transmission are required; but in situations where high pressure is required, the performance of piston pumps is better than that of diaphragm pumps. Specifically, the most suitable pump type and model can be selected based on the specific requirements of the application.