VISCOSITY SENSOR
CELINE CRUZ
VISCOSITY SENSOR
Viscosity
• resistance of a liquid to flow
• measurement of the resistance of a fluid to deformation under shear
stress
• water is "thin", less viscous, while vegetable oil is "thick“, more viscous
Source: [Link]
[Link]
VISCOSITY SENSOR
Also, many quality control measures are
based on viscosity. For example,
• consistent quality of the ketchup’s intended viscosity
• for paint: able to spread properly but shouldn’t be
dripping off of the brush
Source: [Link]
VISCOSITY SENSOR
Viscosity is an important measurement requirement in
industrial process control.
To address the issue of force needed to deliver oil
through piping, sensors in some pipes measure the viscosity
of the fluid and determine if greater or lesser pressure must
be added to keep the flow of oil constant and steady.
Source: [Link]
VISCOSITY SENSOR
FACTORS AFFECTING VISCOSITY
Temperature Particle Size
Concentration Attractive Force
Source: [Link]
1368204347334-4_factors_affecting_viscosity.pdf
VISCOSITY SENSOR
Viscometers
Falling ball
viscometers
Capillary
viscometers
Rotational
viscometers
Source: [Link]
VISCOSITY SENSOR
Viscometers
Falling Ball Viscometers
The Falling Ball Viscometer uses the simple, but precise, Höppler
principle to measure the viscosity Newtonian fluids by measuring the
time required for a ball to fall under gravity through a sample-filled
tube.
Source: [Link]
VISCOSITY SENSOR
Viscometers
Capillary Viscometers
In use, liquid is drawn into the upper bulb by suction, then allowed to
flow down through the capillary into the lower bulb. Two marks (one above and
one below the upper bulb) indicate a known volume. The time taken for the
level of the liquid to pass between these marks is proportional to the kinematic
viscosity. The calibration can be done using a fluid of known properties.
Source: [Link]
VISCOSITY SENSOR
Viscometers
Rotational Viscometers
Rotational viscometers use the idea that the torque required to
turn an object in a fluid is a function of the viscosity of that fluid. They
measure the torque required to rotate a disk or bob in a fluid at a
known speed.
Source: [Link]
VISCOSITY SENSOR
One of the most undesirable aspects of conventional viscosity
measurement methods is that either the sensor mechanism or the
liquid must be in motion. This requirement is true for flow-based
systems such as capillary tubes, Coriolis force tubes, efflux cups, falling
balls, moving pistons, and rotating spindles.
Source: [Link]
VISCOSITY SENSOR
Many companies rely on decisions based on intermittent
“snapshot” data acquired from periodic sampling where conventional
instrumentation can be affected by temperature, shear rate and other
variables like contaminants in oil which are known to degrade viscosity
and cause damage to internal components of equipment, so it is
important to not just rely on snapshot data.
Source: [Link]
VISCOSITY SENSOR
Surface Acoustic Wave Sensor (SenGenuity ViSmart
Viscosity Sensor)
The sensors are unaffected by shock or
vibration or by flow conditions, so they can be used in
harsh operating conditions to measure viscosity from
zero to 500 cP with a temperature range of minus-15
degrees to 125 degrees Celsius with a high degree of
accuracy. At the same time, sensor measurements are
not affected by particulates in the liquid.
Source: [Link]
VISCOSITY SENSOR
CVI viscometer
Cambridge Viscosity’s (CVI’s) patented sensor
technology
• small sample viscosity measurement
• uses only one moving part, a piston, driven
electromagnetically through fluid in a small measurement
chamber
Source: [Link]
VISCOSITY SENSOR
APPLICATIONS IN THE INDUSTRY
Food & Beverage Industry
Petroleum Industry
Oil and Gas Industry
