CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

LABORATORY I

Viscosity
Measurement
By
Lek Wantha, Ph.D.
School of Chemical Engineering,
Suranaree University of
Technology
Newton’s Law of Viscosity
F V

A Y
The constant 
is defined to be
the viscosity.
dvx
 yx  
dy
the shearing
force per unit
area (shear
stress) is
proportional to
the negative of
the velocity
gradient (shear
rate), is often
called Newton's
Ref: Bird, Stewart, and Lightfoot, law of viscosity
Newton’s Law of Viscosity
 Shear stress can be expressed as
dv  2 Ri f 
       
dy  y 
 Viscosity as defined in above equation is
sometimes called dynamic viscosity. For
example,
Viscosity of water at 20 C = 1 cP = 1mPa∙s = 10-3 Pa∙s
= 10-3 kg/m/s
 A modified form of viscosity is the kinematic
viscosity, which is usually given by:



 Fluids that obey Newton’s law with
constant μ are known as Newtonian
fluids. is an important aspect of
Viscosity
rheology, the science of deformation 
Non-Newtonian Fluids
 The viscosity of Newtonian fluids is independent
of the shear stress and shear rate.
 On the other hand, the ratio between shear stress
and shear rate is not constant for non-
Newtonian fluids but depends on the shear
force exerted on the fluid.
 Most slurries, suspensions and dispersions are
non-Newtonian, as are homogeneous
solutions of long-chain polymers and other large
molecules.
Non-Newtonian Fluids

Ref: Doran, 2013.

 Non-Newtonian Fluids
Power law model for
pseudoplastic,
Bingham plastic
and dilatant.
n
  0  K P 
Shear strtess

n
 K P 

0 = yield stress (Pa)

KP = Consistency
index (Pa∙sn)
n = Flow behavior
Shear rate
index
 Pseudoplastics are shear rate-(dimensionless)
thinning.
 Dilatant
Ref: McCabe,fluids
Smith, is and
shear rate-
Harriott,
Non-Newtonian Fluids
 For Non-Newtonian fluid, the concept of viscosity is
not applicable.
 People developed the concept of the “apparent
viscosity”.
 Apparent viscosity is the slope of the linear line
starting from the intersected point from the flow
curve (shear stress-shear rate curve) and the
origin.
 Apparent viscosity (a or ) depend on the shear
rate.
 For fluid with yield stress apparent viscosity is
infinity when fluid does not move.
Non-Newtonian Fluids

  



n
 K P 
n 1
a K P 


n
 K P 
n 1
a K P 
Ref: Doran, 2013. 
Non-Newtonian Fluids

n
  0  K P 
n 1
1 n 1
 a  0   K P 
n
  0  K P 

n=1

a  0  K P n
   0  K P 
n 1
1 n 1
a  0   K P 


1/ 2
 1/ 2  01/ 2  K P 

2
  
1/ 2

a   0   KP 
    
 
Ref: Doran, 2013.
Non-Newtonian Fluids
 Determine the rheological parameters

  0  K P 
n

ln    0  ln K P 
n

ln    0  ln K P  n ln 

ln    0 

n
ln K P

ln 
 Viscosity Measurement
 Bob-and Cup (rotating) viscometer shear stress 
a  
shear rate 

force/area 
a  
shear rate 

torque
Ri 2 Ri L 
a 
2 Ra2 Ri2
Ri2  Ra2  Ri2 

 2 n / 60

 This experiment: Cylinder system, and f and M are

characteristics of sensors used.
f Md 0.01  Ra2
a  f  M 
M n 2 LRi2 15  Ra2  Ri2 
Viscosity Measurement
Ri

Ra
Experimental Method: Viscosity
Measurement
Objective

 To investigate the rheological behavior of

various fluid using a rotational bob-and-cup
viscometer.

 To determine the rheological parameters of

various fluid

 To study the effect of temperature on

rheological behavior and rheological
parameters of various fluid
Experimental Method: Viscosity
Measurement
System
The fluid used in this experiment is
1. Toothpaste
2. Tomato ketchup
3. Silicone oil
Experimental Method: Viscosity
Measurement
Equipment
The Haake rotational viscometer (Viscotester VT
550) with sensor systems, MVI, and SV2

 MV1: moderately
viscous fluid
 SV2: severely
viscous fluid
Experimental Method: Viscosity
Measurement
Equipment  MV1: moderately viscous
fluid
 SV2: severely viscous fluid
Experimental Method: Viscosity
Measurement
Equipment  MV1: moderately viscous
fluid
 SV2: severely viscous fluid
Experimental Method: Viscosity
Measurement
Equipment  MV1: moderately viscous
fluid
a
 SV2: severely viscous fluid


Experimental Method: Viscosity
Measurement
Equipment  MV1: moderately viscous
fluid
a  SV2: severely viscous fluid


Experimental Method: Viscosity
Measurement
Procedure
1. Pour a sample into the appropriate cup (SV2 for
severely viscous fluid, MV 1 for moderately viscous
fluid, and NV for non-viscous fluid).
2. Turn on the Viscotester VT 550.
3. Adjust the operating parameter accordingly; for
example, sensor number S
4. Connect the appropriate rotor to the Viscotester
VT 550
5. Press start to let the rotor rotate
6. When the steady state is reached, record apparent
viscosity (mPa∙s), shear stress (Pa), shear rate (s-1),
revolution (rpm), and fluid temperature.
7. Repeat step 6 at different revolutions (at least four
rpm).
8. Repeat step 6 and 7 at different temperature by
changing the temperature in a circulating water bath.
Experimental Method: Viscosity
Measurement
Report and Calculation
1. Plot a graph of shear stress and shear rate for
each fluid on both linear and graph for
determining the rheological parameters.
2. Characterize each fluid according to the
observed rheological behavior. Determine the
appropriate rheological parameters using a
power law model.
3. Discuss the significance and physical meaning
if any of each rheological parameter. Compare
the values of parameters at different
temperature and between each fluid.
4. For SV2 and MV1, calculate the shear rate
from the geometry of the sensors and computer
the shear stress from the power law model.
Compare the calculated results and the
Experimental Method: Viscosity
Measurement
References
1. Bird, R. B., Stewart, W. E., and Lightfoot, E. N.,
Transport Phenomena, 2nd edition, John Wiley & Sons,
2002.
2. Doran, P.M. Bioprocess Engineering Principles, 2nd
edition, Academic Press, 2013.
3. McCabe, W.L., Smith, J.C., and Harriott, P. Unit
Operations of Chemical Engineering, 7th edition,
McGraw Hill, 2005.