1.

SUMMARY

The development of an automated viscometer is described. It is a modified Ostwald viscometer

in which the sample to be determined is injected into a suitable carrier stream flowing along a
narrow-bore tube. The time taken for the sample to traverse a fixed distance is directly
proportional to the viscosity. The sample size is typically 50 l and the time of determination 30
s, with a precision of 0.20.3%, for samples of viscosity 0.2190 cP (a greater range is attainable
in principle by minor alteration of the tube parameters). It may be operated in the reverse
mode by using a carrier stream of unknown viscosity and injecting a sample of known viscosity.
In this way it way it may be used for continuous monitoring. A number of detectors have been
devised and evaluated and several microcomputer systems have been employed in the
development and these are described and discussed.
This new method of accurate calculation of the coefficient of viscosity of a test liquid from
experimentally measured terminal velocity of a ball falling in the test liquid contained in a
narrow tube is described. The calculation requires the value of a multiplicative correction factor
to the apparent coefficient of viscosity calculated by substitution of terminal velocity of the
falling ball in Stokes formula. This correction factor, the so-called viscosity ratio, a measure of
deviation from Stokes limit, arises from non-vanishing values of the Reynolds number and the
ball/tube radius ratio.
The method, valid over a very wide range of Reynolds number, is based on the recognition of a
relationship between two measures of wall effect, the more widely investigated velocity ratio,
defined as the ratio of terminal velocity in a confined medium to that in a boundless medium
and viscosity ratio. The calculation uses two recently published correlation formulae based on
extensive experimental results on terminal velocity of a falling ball. The first formula relates
velocity ratio to Reynolds number and ball-tube radius ratio. The second formula gives an
expression of the ratio of the drag force actually sensed by the ball falling in an infinite medium
to that in the Stokes limit as a function of Reynolds number alone. It is shown that appropriate
use of this correction factor extends the utility of the technique of falling ball viscometry
beyond the very low Reynolds number creepy flow regime, to which its application is presently

restricted. Issues related to accuracy are examined by use of our own measurements of the
terminal velocity of a falling ball in a narrow tube and that of published literature reports, on
liquids of known viscosity coefficient.

2.0

INTRODUCTION

Measuring viscosity is an effective way to know the state properties of matter or fluidity of a
liquid or gas. It plays an important role in the quality control and in various research and
development stages of a wide range of industries, including Food, Chemical, Pharmaceutical,
Petrochemical, Cosmetics, Paint, Ink, Coatings, Oil and Automotives. For example, the viscosity
of a liquid is an important parameter for designing the piping in a plant or transporting crude oil
or chemical agent through a pipeline. In the electronic engineering industry, photresist fluid is
used in the production processes of the printed circuit board, cathode-ray tube, and flat liquid
crystal display. Controlling the viscosity of photoresist fluid is a crucial factor to determine the
qualities, performance, and yields of finished products. Among those industries, it has been also
recognized that controlling optimum viscosity reduces production costs
A viscometer is an instrument that being used to measure the viscosity of a fluid. For liquids
with viscosities which vary with flow conditions, an instrument called a rheometer is used.
Viscometers only measure in one flow condition. In general, either the fluid remains stationary
and an object moves through it, or the object is stationary and the fluid moves past it. The drag
caused by relative motion of the fluid and a surface is a measure of the viscosity. The flow
conditions must have a sufficiently small value of Reynolds number for there to be laminar
flow. In the industry there were variety types of viscometer have been used depends on the
properties of the fluid. Example of the viscometer are :

Falling ball viscometer

Rotational viscometer

3.0

AIM

The objectives of this experiment are:

1. To measure viscosity of various fluid using ball viscometer of various sizes.
2. To compare viscosity of fluids using various sizes of capillary tube.
3. To measure viscosity of fluids at specific temperatures.

4.0

THEORY

Evaluation of hydrodynamic forces on a rigid body in relative motion in a fluid has been of
interest for a very long time. A falling spherical ball, which senses this force, has been used as a
probe to study fluid properties. Measurement of terminal velocity of a ball falling in a viscous
fluid enclosed in a narrow tube provides a method for determination of the coefficient of
viscosity of the test liquid. This simple, yet accurate technique, in use for a long time, is of
considerable recent interest. A falling ball viscometer is commercially available and has been
used for testing petroleum products, pharmaceutical beverages, silicate glass and food
products.
In addition to viscometry, study of a falling ball is important in several engineering domains
which involve multiphase flows e.g., sedimentation, improvement of combustion, minimization
of erosion by droplets in large turbines, hydrodynamic chromatography, membrane transport,
hydraulic and pneumatic transport of coarse particles in pipes, effects that utilize electric fields
to enhance transport phenomena and separations in multiphase systems. Motion of a falling
ball in a liquid contained in a narrow tube, apart from viscometry and other practical
applications, is interesting in its own right.
Falling ball viscometry assumes importance in the study of non-Newtonian fluids, an area of
considerable recent interest. The use of more conventional viscometers, e.g., capillary or
rotary, for zero-shear rate viscosity measurement of non-Newtonian fluids is error-prone.
Measurements at low shear rate are problematic in these instruments and extrapolation to
zero shear rate is ambiguous. Falling ball viscometer is superior in this regard and considerable
amount of work has been done in application of falling ball viscometry to measurement of
viscosity of non-Newtonian fluids, both experimental and in respect of techniques of
extrapolation to zero shear stress.

Newtonian fluids
A Newtonian fluid is characterized by having a constant viscosity at a given temperature. This is
normally the case for water and most oils. A plot of shear rate versus shear stress would show a
constant slope, (figure 2). This is the simplest and easiest fluids to measure in the lab.

Figure 2 : shear rate versus shear stress for Newtonian fluids

Non newtonian fluids

A non-newtonian fluid is characterized by not having an unique value for viscosity. That is, the
relationship stress rate/shear rate is not constant. The viscosity of these fluids will depend on the
shear rate applied. There are several types of non-newtonian fluid behavior that we can observe
in the lab. The most common are shown in figure 3. Pseudo plastic fluids : these are fluids like
paints and emulsions, there is a decrease in viscosity as the shear rate increases. Also known as
shear thinning fluids. Dilatant fluids: these are fluids that increase their viscosity as the shear rate
increases. Examples are cement slurries, candy mixtures, corn startch in water. Also known as
shear thickening fluids. Plastic fluids: These fluids will behave like solids under static
conditions. They will start to flow only when certain amount of pressure is applied. Examples are
tomato catsup and silly putty.

Figure 3 : shear rate versus shear stress for different types of liquids

5.0

APPARATUS

The apparatus and materials used in this experiment are:

FALLING BALL

COOKING OIL

AUTOMATED MICRO
VISCOMETER

SET OF CAPILLARY

6.0

PROCEDURE
1. 15921772 serial numbers (set 4.0) of the set of capillary is taken. There are three set of
capillary with different falling ball density.
2. A falling ball with a density of 7.75 g/cm3 was taken from the bottle and placed inside the
capillary.
3. The measuring set consists of measuring tube with its cap and syringe. Use a cap at the
end of the capillary to prevent the oil from flowing out during experiments.
4. The syringe was placed at the end of the covered hole to suck the oil from beaker to flow
into the capillary.
5. The air bubble was observed from the capillary. Make sure that there are no air bubbles
in the capillary in order to get accurate result. If theres presence of air bubble, restart the
procedure.
6. After ensure that no bubble present, the end of the capillary was then being covered and
the syringe was taken out.
7. The capillary was wiped with tissue to avoid any residue or oil that struck on it
8. The capillary then was placed in the capillary block on the Automated Micro Viscometer
9. The capillary block was being tighten and the VisioLab application was opened on the
computer
10. The measuring system for each capillary was set accordingly.
11. The experiment was then repeated by using another set of capillaries with densities of
falling ball of 7.67 g/cm3 and 7.77 g/cm3.

7.0

RESULT

SERIAL NUMBER

: 15921284

CAPILLARY DIAMETER

: 3.00 mm

BALL DIAMETER

: 2.50 mm

BALL DENSITY

: 777 g/cm

REPETITION
1/4
2/4
3/4
4/4
Averange

SERIAL NUMBER

: 16037700

CAPILLARY DIAMETER

: 1.80 mm

BALL DIAMETER

: 1.50 mm

BALL DENSITY

: 767 g/cm

REPITITON
1/4
2/4
3/4
4/4
Averange

DYNAMIC VISCOSITY
(mPa.S)
68.2144
68.4126
68.2492
68.1582
68.2586

KINEMATIC VISCOSITY
(mm/s)
73.7453
73.9595
73.7830
73.6846
73.7931

DYNAMIC VISCOSITY
(mPa.s)
67.0556
66.7027
67.0360
66.4937
66.8220

KINEMATIC VISCOSITY
(mm/s)
72.4926
72.1110
72.4713
71.8850
72.2400

SERIAL NUMBER

: 15921772

CAPILLARY DIAMETER

: 4.00 mm

BALL DIAMETER

: 3.00 mm

BALL DENSITY

: 775 g/cm

REPETITION
1/4
2/4
3/4
4/4
Averange

DYNAMIC VISCOSITY
(mPa.s)
68.5688
68.1342
68.4336
67.9314
68.2670

KINEMATIC VISCOSITY
(mm/s)
74.1285
73.6586
73.9823
73.4394
73.8022

8.0

CALCULATION

Sample 1

Sample name : cooling oil

Serial number : 15921284
K1 Calibration constant of the measuring system : 0.39116 mPa.cm3/g
N Dynamic viscosity of the viscosity standard fluid : N mPa.s
t1 Rolling time of ball : 25.48s
K Density of ball : 7.77 g/cm3
N Density of the viscosity standard fluid : 0.925g/cm

Dynamic viscosity
K1 =

0.39116 =
= 68.2144 mPa.s

Kinematic viscosity

Kinematic viscosity =
=
= 73.7453 mm/s

Sample 2
Sample name : cooling oil
Serial number : 15921772
K1 Calibration constant of the measuring system : 0.15344 mPa.cm3/g
N Dynamic viscosity of the viscosity standard fluid : N mPa.s
t1 Rolling time of ball : 64.79s
K Density of ball : 7.67 g/cm
N Density of the viscosity standard fluid : 0.925 g/cm

Dynamic viscosity
K1 =
0.15344 =
N = 67.0556 mPa.s

Kinematic viscosity

Kinematic viscosity =
=
= 72.4926 mm/s

Sample 3
Sample name : cooling oil
Serial number : 16037700
K1 Calibration constant of the measuring system : 1.41503 mPa.cm/g
N Dynamic viscosity of the viscosity standard fluid : N mPa.s
t1

Rolling time of ball : 7.10s

K Density of ball : 7.75 g/cm

N Density of the viscosity standard fluid : 0.925 g/cm

Dynamic viscosity
K1 =
1.41503 =
N = 68.5688 mPa.s

Kinematic viscosity

Kinematic viscosity =
=
= 74.1285 mm/s

10.0

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the result above, different set has a different value of dynamic and kinematic
viscosity. Set 2.0 (serial number: 16037700), the calculated values for dynamic viscosity and
kinematic viscosity are 68.5688 mPa.s and 74.1285 mm/s, while their average experimental
values are 66.8220 mPa.s and 72.2400 mm2s respectively. For set 3.0 (serial number:
15921284), the calculated values for dynamic viscosity and kinematic viscosity are 68.2144
mPa.s and 73.7453 mm/s, while their average experimental values are 68.2586 mPa.s and
73.7931 mm2s respectively. Lastly, for set 4.0 (serial number: 15921772), the calculated values
for dynamic viscosity and kinematic viscosity are 67.0556 mPa.s and 72.4926 mm/s, while their
average experimental values are 68.2670 mPa.s and 73.8022 mm2s respectively. Different set
have different size and density of ball bearing which affected the dynamic and kinematic
viscosity. As the density of the ball bearing higher, the viscosity will increase as well and vice
versa. The experimental values are different than calculated values due to the some errors
occurred during conducting the experiment.

11.0

RECOMMENDATIONS

There are some recommendation should be taken to give better result and to avoid accident
during the experiment. For example:
1. Follow the procedure of the experiment thoroughly to prevent mistake.
2. Fill in the cooking oil with completely into the tube without allow the air bubble to exist
to prevent the friction between the air bubble and the steel ball.
3. Before fill in the cooking oil in the tube to start the new experiment, make sure the
remaining cooking oil from the previous experiment has been drained out.
4. The sample in the capillary tube must be free from the bubbles.
5. The capillary tube must be cleaned from any impurities before using it.
6. A series of steel ball bearings of different diameter is normally used in the experiment to
improve the accuracy of the calculation.
7. The steel bearing ball need to be polished after using it with leather cloth and fibre before
being inserted into the capillary tube with the forceps.
8. Carefully handle capillary tube to avoid it from falling.
9. The experiment should be repeated for at least 3 times to get a more accurate result.
10. Alert with the reading needed. Make sure the reading is stabilized before recording the
reading needed.
11. Take the reading correctly base to the experiment objective.
12. Student should wear proper attire and wearing all the personal protective equipment
prepared by the lab technician before conducting the experiment.

12.0

REFERENCES

12.1

Book

1. S. V. Gupta. (2014). Viscometry for Liquids: Calibration of Viscometers. London.

Springer
2. Manas Senapati. (2006). Advanced Engineering Chemistry. (2nd Edition). New Delhi.
Laxmi Publications (P) LTD.
12.2

Internet

1. Wikipedia.

(2015).

Viscometer.

Retrieved

on

15

April

2015.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscometer
2. Arslan AFzal. (2009). 6 To Measure The Viscosity Of A Liquid Fuel (Mobil Oil) By
Saybolt

Viscometer.

Retrieved

on

17

April

2015.

http://www.slideshare.net/arslanafzal321/6-to-measure-the-viscosity-of-a-liquid-fuelmobil-oil-by-saybolt-viscometer-www07-mettk
3. Noria Corporation. (2012). Oil Viscosity - How It's Measured and Reported. Retrieved on
20 April 2015. http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/411/oil-viscosity
4. The Engineering ToolBox. (2010). Dynamic, Absolute and Kinematic Viscosity.
Retrieved on 20 April 2015. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/dynamic-absolutekinematic-viscosity-d_412.html
5. MSUBBU. (2014). Newtonian and non-Newtonian Fluids. Retrieved on 23 April 2015.
http://www.msubbu.in/ln/fm/Unit-I/NonNewtonian.htm

13.0

APPENDICES

Some of apparatus and materials used for this experiment:

FALLING BALL

COOKING OIL

AUTOMATED MICRO
VISCOMETER

SET OF CAPILLARY