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University Of Kirkuk

College Of Engineering
Petroleum Department

Falling ball viscometer

Measuring viscosity of fluids (Kinematic & Dynamic)

The dynamic viscosity is calculated according to the following equation ( Where : Dynamic viscosity,(mpas) t : travelling time of the ball , (sec) : density of ball (gm/cc) : density of measuring substance ( gm/cc) K : ball factor (mpas.cc/gm) F : working angle constant
Angle of inclination a (applied to the level) 80 (DIN) 70 60 50 Working angle constant F 1.0 0.952 0.879 0.778

(1)

The density and ball constant are each stated in the test certificate. Consideration for buoyancy of the ball in the sample is accounted for by )in equation (1). means of ( The density of the sample can be determined by:

referring to the material specifications from the manufacturer of the fluid measuring with a densitometer The density of the sample must be determined exactly when the amount ( )becomes small. The use of the glass ball requires the determination of the density of the sample to the 3rd decimal position in g/cm3. For metal balls, the 2nd decimal position is sufficient. For glass balls, the density of the measuring substance is determined to 0.001 g/cm3, for metal balls to 0.01 g/cm3. The kinematic viscosity is determined using dynamic viscosity as the following equation :

..(2)
Where : Kinematic viscosity , (mm2/sec) : dynamic viscosity , (mpas.) : density of measuring substance ( gm/cc) The calculation can be carried out without scientific units of measurement if the numerical values are put into the units stated above.

A viscometer is an instrument 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 are used under 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. The measurement of viscosity is of significant importance in both industry and academia. Accurate knowledge of viscosity is necessary for various industrial processes. Various theories that are developed for prediction or estimation of viscosity must be verified using experimental data. Instruments used to measure the viscosity of liquids can be broadly classified into seven categories: 1. Tube viscometers 2. Rotational viscometers 3. Falling ball viscometers 4. Orifice viscometers 5. Paddle viscometers 6. Oscillating viscometers 7. Imitative viscometers

The Falling Ball Viscometer, Models KF10 comply with the German industry standard DIN 53015. The measuring principle, according to Hoppler, is to determine the falling time of a ball in a cylindrical glass tube filled with liquid. The working angle of the falling tube in the KF10 is fixed in the DIN 53015 position of 80 relative to horizontal. The water jacket, surrounding the falling tube, when connected to a Brookfield

circulating temperature bath provides for precise temperature control of the sample. The user calculates the dynamic viscosity of the sample by determining the falling time of the ball between the upper and lower ring marks displayed on the falling tube. Using data on the ball constants, the density difference between the liquid sample and the ball, and the working angle constant, a mathematical equation is used to convert the time measurement to a viscosity value in centpoise. The six (6) balls with different diameters and densities enable the KF10 to measure a wide range of viscosities.

Refer to Figure 1. Specific items identified on the Falling Ball Viscometer are identified by parentheses ( ) in the following steps: 1. The Falling Ball Viscometer must be level. The level is adjusted using the two Leveling Screws (4) on the base. Adjust so that the bubble level on top of the Falling Ball Viscometer is centered within the circle. Check level periodically during use. 2. The working angle of the KF10 Viscometer is fixed at the DIN 53015 position of 80 relative to horizontal. 3. The two running directions of the balls can be chosen by swivelling the viscometer, which is mounted in the stand, and is secured by a locking mechanism. 4. The sample tube (6) is surrounded by a water jacket which is fixed between the upper plate (7) and lower plate (8). The upper locking plug (16) with lid (20), the lower locking plug (17) and accompanying seals (gaskets and washers) (19), and the caps (18) are designed to perform the following functions within the sample tube: a. keep the liquid sample tightly sealed b. eliminate the formation of air bubbles
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c. avoid a build up of pressure (see Fig. 2 and 3) 5. Mounted on the lower plate are tubes (10) to which the circulating temperature bath tubing is attached. 6. The thermometer fastening screw (11) and sealing washer (13) with inserted thermometer is screwed into the screw neck (12) in the upper plate. The thermometer fastening screw should be tightened securely to prevent fluid leakage. 7. The primary function of the ball gage is to distinguish the two glass balls (Ball No. 1 and Ball No. 2) from each other. Ball No. 1 will not pass through the ball gage, whereas Ball No. 2 will pass through. The ball gage may also be used to help identify Ball No. 2 through 4.

Figure 1: Falling Ball Viscometer KF10

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Stand Viscometer Bubble level Leveling screw Adjustment screw for angle (KF20 only)(not available in our experiment) Sample tube Upper plate Lower plate Water jacket Tubes for connection to water bath Fastening screw for thermometer

12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.

Screw neck Sealing washer Bearing for viscometer rotation Nuts Upper locking plug Lower locking plug Cap Seal Lid Falling tube screw fitting Stop to hold viscometer in position

Figure 2: Sample tube screw fitting (top)

Figure 3: Sample tube screw fitting (bottom)

The balls are chosen in such a way that the minimum falling time is not less than what is shown in the table and the maximum falling time is not greater than 300 s. The DIN 53015 indicates that a falling time greater than 300 s is allowed, but for practical reasons, a shorter test time makes more sense.
Ball No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Diameter [mm] 15.81 15.60 15.60 15.20 14.00 11.00 Minimum falling time [s] 60 30 30 30 30 30 Lower measuring range limit [mPas] 0.5 2.5 20 200 1000 5500 Upper measuring range limit [mPas] 10 130 700 7800 45000 70000

The specifications for the ball constant and the ball density are taken from the test certificate which came with the equipment.

The exchange of balls or equipment components between different viscometers is not permitted. Otherwise, the ball constants lose their validity. When the falling time for the ball is less than the minimum time, turbulence may occur.

1. Select the preverable angle of infiliction . 2. Uses a 40 ml of fluid to be measured (viscosity measurement) 3. Measure the density of fluid , 4. Measure the density of the ball , . .

5. Fill the falling tube with selected fluid . 6. Put the ball into the falling tube. 7. Seal the opening of the viscometer . 8. Use a stop watch to measure the time of falling ball . 9. Repeat step 8 two of three times . 10.Use eqts. 1 & 2 to find viscosities .

To fill the sample tube: The sample tube is locked on the lower plate with the lower locking plug, seal, and cap.

The liquid is filled up to approximately 25 mm beneath the top of the sample tube without air bubbles. Use a glass filter to remove any impurities when introducing a liquid into the tube.

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The ball is polished with the leather cloth and fibres are removed with the small cleaning brush, before being inserted into the tube with the forceps. The ball must not be touched after polishing. The ball will travel to the bottom of the tube. Possible air bubbles in the sample, or trapped below the ball, are removed with a suitable rod, by rotating the ball.

Insert the upper locking plug with seal into the sample tube. In so doing, the sample must enter the inside of the upper locking plug through the opening. The upper locking plug must not be filled more than half way with the sample in order to minimize pressure build-up due to the air bubbles. Due to the design of the upper locking plug, air bubbles cannot get into the sample tube.

The sample must be free of air bubbles between the two locking plugs. The lid of the upper locking plug is attached and the temperature control (desired test temperature) must be achieved. After proper temperature control is achieved, the upper cap is screwed on.

Before beginning the measurement, the upper cap is loosened (unscrewed) again to let off possible pressure. The time which the balls take to run between the top and bottom ring marks in the sample tube is determined with a stop watch (resolution 0.01 s). lt is recommended that you record the passage of the lower ball point using the ring marks as follows. Position your eyes at the same height as the ring marks so that these appear as a line. A dark paper, placed behind the viscometer with its edge at the same height as the ring mark, shows the ball periphery more distinctly. With dark liquids, you can better observe the ball in the sample tube by looking from behind the instrument.

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Possible variations in the measuring times are may be to impurities in the sample, air bubbles or the fact that it has not been brought to the right

STOP STOPWATCH WHEN BOTTOM OF BALL CROSSES OVER RING MARK

temperature (insufficient temperature control). Even 0.1C change in temperature is clearly measurable. The first forward and return passage of the ball can be used to achieve a thorough mixing (temperature equalization) of the sample before running the viscosity test.

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Non-Newtonian behavior can be determined when different measurement times are recorded with repeated tests.

Thixotropy/Rheopexy Thixotropy (rheopexy) is indicated if the travelling times for a ball decreases (increases) when repeated measurements are made on the same volume of sample. Rotational or Capillary Viscometers should be used for better determination of flow behavior. Structural Viscosity (Pseudoplasticity and Dilantancy) Using the KF20 Falling Ball Viscometer at different angles may serve to determine pseudo- plastic or dilatant behavior for non-Newtonian liquids. If the sample is non-Newtonian, the travel time of the ball multiplied by the sine of the working angle for the KF20 will not remain constant. This infers non-Newtonian flow behavior. For pseudoplasticity, the calculated value decreases; for dilatancy, it increases.. Details about the relative values for pseudoplasticity and dilatancy are related to the diameter of the ball and the working angle. More appropriate equipment, like rotational viscometes/rheometers, should be used for detailed examination of non-Newtonian materials.

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Viscosity describes a fluid's internal resistance to flow and may be thought of as a measure of fluid friction. Fluids resist the relative motion of immersed objects through them as well as to the motion of layers with differing velocities within them. Oil Viscosity: Technically, the viscosity of an oil is a measure of the oils resistance to shear. Viscosity is more commonly known as resistance to flow. If a lubricating oil is considered as a series of fluid layers superimposed on each other, the viscosity of the oil is a measure of the resistance to flow between the individual layers. A high viscosity implies a high resistance to flow while a low viscosity indicates a low resistance to flow. Viscosity varies inversely with temperature. Viscosity is also affected by pressure; higher pressure causes the viscosity to increase, and subsequently the load-carrying capacity of the oil also increases. Furthermore, this resistance acts against the motion of any solid object through the fluid and also against motion of the fluid itself past stationary obstacles. Viscosity also acts internally on the fluid between slower and faster moving adjacent layers.

Stokes' law is the basis of the falling sphere viscometer, in which the fluid is stationary in a vertical glass tube. (This page is taken from many web pages from the internet)

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(This page is written by myself) When the ball is falling in the liquid there is resistance forces which acts on the ball upward this resistance forces are the viscosity but the force of the ball downward is greater than the resistance forces therefore the ball fall downward if the viscosity force is greater than the downward force of the ball then the ball will not fall downward . We use crystal ball when we measure the viscosity for gas and a steel ball when we measure the viscosity for liquid cause the crystal ball is lighter than the steel ball (the density of the gas is less than the density of the liquid) .if we use the steel ball for gas it will fall so fast that we cant measure the time of falling. the laboratory measurement is not accurate value but may contain some error due to inaccuracies in time measurement therefore its necessary to be careful in measuring the time of falling the ball. The viscosity change with changing the temperature as shown in plot below

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A series of steel ball bearings of different diameter is normally used in the experiment to improve the accuracy of the calculation. In this experiment, the speed at which a sphere falls through a viscous fluid is measured by recording the sphere position as a function of time. The purpose of the outer cylinder is for heating (change the temperature to change the viscosity).

References
http://www.engineersedge.com/lubrication/oil_viscosity.htm http://www.brookfieldengineering.com From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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