INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

PROPOSAL FOR DESIGN AND DEMONSTRATION OF

VISCOMETER

ME6080: MEASUREMENTS IN THERMAL ENGINEERING

As a part of laboratory session project

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Submitted
By
Batch-X

Date: 6-02-2017
Nomenclature:
Quantity Units
P - Power (i-input, o-output, g- W
generated)
T - Torque (r-resistive) N-m
F - Force N
- Angular velocity Rad/s
- Efficiency (m-motor, g-generator) --
- Viscosity Pa. s
r - Radius m
h - Distance m
A - Area m2
v - Velocity m/s
I - Current A
V - Volatage Volts

List of Figures & Tables:

Fig.1 (a) Schematic of rotating disk viscometer (b) shear stress profile

Introduction
Viscosity is property of fluid which is resistance to flow. Fluid with high viscosity
shows more resistance to flow. In most of engineering applications people want to
measure viscosity of fluid that involves in fluid, especially in Design. Because
viscosity of fluid drastically changes with temperature. Its important to understand
the behavior lubricants under different temperature and pressure conditions to
avoid design errors. Researchers who are developing new lubricants or other fluids
also want measure viscosity of fluid or lubricant in the laboratory. For not only
Researchers but also viscosity measurement plays very important role in processing
industries such beverages and many commercial applications such as shampoo,
Tooth paste etc. for the quality control of product.
The most common devises used to measure viscosity are Viscometer and
rheometer. In most of the cases viscometers are used to measure viscosity.
Viscometer works well for the fluid whose viscosity doesnt change with flow
conditions. Most of Newtonian fluids such as oils, water etc. Rheometers are used to
measure the viscosity of fluid whose viscosity changes with flow conditions, most of
non-Newtonian fluids such as polymers.

Objective:
The objective of this proposal is to design and demonstrate an experimental setup
to measure the viscosity of Newtonian fluid using rotating disk method.

Theory:
Viscometers usually works by comparing a stationary object in moving fluid or
moving object in stationary fluid. This proposal goes with the partially submerging
a rotating disk in stationary fluid which is connected to motor in one end DC
generator at another end. When the disk rotated in a fluid bath with certain height
the fluid will offer resistance on the disk due to shear stresses between the fluid and
disk. The difference between the motor input and generator output with including
efficiency of both will be equal to resisting torque offered by the fluid times the
angular velocity of the disk. By measuring the rpm of disk with Tachometer and by
power lost its easy to calculate the viscosity of fluid.

Formulations:

Plost =Pi P o=T r

 Pi=V I m

Pg
P o=
g
T =F r
dA r
v
dA r
h
T r2
2 3
T = h
r dr
0 r1

T =T r
Substitute T in to get

Assumptions:
1. Fluid is Newtonian i.e. shear stress profile is varies linearly along radial
direction of disk.
2. Velocity of fluid is laminar.
3. Motor and generator have constant efficiency irrespective of given input.
4. Vibrational effect due to motor and generator on the fluid bath is neglected.
5. Thickness of the disk is neglected.
6. Viscosity change due to temp raise because of disk rotation is neglected.

Components:

S.N Component Name Specification Quantity Approx. Cost

o (Rs.)
1. DC Motor 20-50 rpm, 3-5 1 *
N-m, 5W
2. DC Generator 20-50 rpm, 3-5 1 *
N-m, 5W
3. Ply wood 50Cm X50Cm 1 500 (excluding
cutting cost)
4. 2mm thick aluminum 6 cm dia. 1 300
disk
5. Glass Jar (Rectangular) 6X5X5 Cm3 1 500
6. Motor clamps Size of motor, 4 100
generator
7. screws Respective to 8 20
clamps
8. DC RPS 0-12V, 5amps 1 5000
least count in
 milliamps.
9. Multi meter Basic model 1 500

* - in search. Specifications are not found exactly.

The above costs excluded process costs such as surface finish, cutting cost etc.
Conclusion:
The above approach will work to measure viscosity of fluid, further complications
and difficulties will be known with moving forward in execution, we will work those
out and make this idea successful.