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A Falling Body High-Pressure Viscometer

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Abstract

This paper describes the construction, working equations, and operation of a semi-automated high-pressure falling body viscometer used in the pressure range 0.1 MPa to 400 MPa and at temperatures between 255 K and 368 K. The viscometer employs self-centering sinkers, each a hollow cylinder with a solid hemispherical face. This results in a viscosity-independent sinker calibration constant. With sinkers of different diameters, a broad range of Reynolds numbers is accessible. The dependence of the calibration constants (A) on sinker clearance (c), A ∝ c−3, conforms with theory. It has been used for both high and low viscosity molecular liquids and viscous ionic liquids. It is hoped that a complete description may be of use to others wishing to build and operate such an instrument.

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Reprinted with permission from K. R. Harris, L. A. Woolf, M. Kanakubo, J. Chem. Eng. Data 50, 1777–1782 (2005), [40]. Copyright 2005 American Chemical Society

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Acknowledgments

Many people have contributed to the design, construction, and operating procedures of this viscometer. Initial construction at ANU: the late Dr Lawrie Woolf (design), the late Mr Lindsay Wilson (design, machining, and construction), Mr Peter Smith (programming and electronics), and Dr Rakesh Malhotra (programming). Dr Jim Isdale (NEL, Glasgow, Scotland), Dr John Dymond (University of Glasgow), and the late Dr Alan Easteal (University of Auckland and ANU) also contributed to the design and operational procedures. Modifications at UNSW Canberra: Messrs Ken Piper and Ray Lawson (machining); Mr Kerry Richens (programming and electronics), the late Dr Peter Dunlop and Mr Keith Shepherdson [(Department of (Physical and Inorganic) Chemistry, University of Adelaide: temperature control unit], and Mr Hans Lawatsch (electronics). I am very grateful to Dr John Dymond for obtaining excerpts from the thesis of Dr Roberta Scott, held by Queen Mary College, University of London and to him and Dr John Robertson, formerly of the University of Glasgow, for commenting on a draft of the manuscript.

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  1. School of Science, The University of New South Wales, PO Box 7916, Canberra, BC, ACT 2610, Australia

    Kenneth R. Harris

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Harris, K.R. A Falling Body High-Pressure Viscometer. Int J Thermophys 44, 184 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-023-03285-0

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