Brookfield Viscometer Assignment

Introduction
The Brookfield viscometer works by rotating a cylindrical spindle of known surface area
in a fluid, and finding the torque on the spindle. Viscosity is then found through the
relationship:

=
Figure 1- This is very similar design to our viscometer. The only significant difference is the speed
control. Ours is on the side and operates in stepped increments of ! 1"! #$ and $ %&'. From
Brookfield(s )*olution to *ticky &ro+lems,
Where is the viscosity in poise, is the shear stress in dynes cm!, and is the rate of
shear "sec
#$
%. The full scale torque of our &V' model viscometer is ()*.) dyne#cm+
torque is linear with the scale reading. , material requiring a shear stress of $ dyne per
cm
!
to produce a shear rate of one reciprocal second has a viscosity of $ poise "$--cp%.
Theory
.ewtonian fluids such as light oils have a viscosity that is constant with shear rate.
Bingham fluids have a constant viscosity, but require a certain /yield#stress0 "o% in order
to initiate shear "movement%:
+ =
o
1ower &aw fluids are either pseoudoplastic "shear thinning% or dilatant "shear
thickening%. These fluids obey the model:
n
k =
Where k is the /consistency inde20 and n is positive for dilatant fluids and negative for
pseudoplastics "note that for n 3 $, k reduces to the .ewtonian viscosity%.
, power law fluid that has a yield stress is also called a /4erschel Bulkley0 fluid, and
follows:
n
o
k + =
'or cylindrical spindles, the area can be computed as 5
!
&. Torque is computed as the
force acting on the outer surface of the spindle times the radius "/lever arm0%. Therefore,
the following relationships hold:
6hear
5ate "sec
#$
%
%
"
!
! ! !
! !
b c
b c
R R x
R R

6hear 6tress "dynescm

!
%
L R
M
b
!
!
=
Viscosity

=
7efinitions: 3 angular velocity of
spindle "radsec%
%c 3 radius of container
"cm%
%+ 3 radius of spindle
"cm%
- 3 radius at which
shear rate is being
measured
' 3 torque input by
instrument
. 3 effective length of
spindle
*tandard Operating &rocedure
$% &evel the viscometer using the bolts on the legs of the instrument.
!% 8nsert the spindle guard.
*% 8nsert the spindle by very carefully holding the viscometer side and screwing the
spindle in a counterclockwise direction "/left handed threads0%.
9% :arefully lower the viscometer into the solution to be measured using the
mounting nut on the viscometer handle. 8nsert up to the insertion marking on the
spindle.
;% :heck to make sure the viscometer is still level
(% Turn the viscometer on and set to the desired speed "the combination of spindle
and speed should not cause the torque reading to e2ceed $--<%.
)% Wait several rotations for the reading to stabili=e and mark the torque by pressing
down on the clutch lever.
>% Turn off the motor when the needle is in front of the view window and read the
scale.
?% :alculate torque by multiplying the factor found on the card by the unit. @se the
/&V0 and the appropriate spindle number. 6pindle numbers are stamped on the
top of the shaft.
$-% :lean up and unplug viscometer after use.
/-periments
8#Affect of Temperature on Vegetable Bil
'ollowing the 6B1 and using spindleC$, measure the viscosity of the :risco :anola Bil at
several different temperatures. 6tart at room temperature and use the water bath to hear
the solution, periodically taking measurements. Deasure the viscosity at all 9 speeds if
possible.
88#.on#.ewtonian 'luid "ketchup%
'ollowing the 6B1 and using spindleC9, measure the viscosity of the ketchup at all 9
speeds "room temperature%.
Analysis
8# Affect of Temperature on Vegatable Bil
$% ,t a given temperature, are all of the viscosity readings appro2imately the same
for each speedE What does this tell you about the nature of the fluidE
!% 1lot temperature versus viscosity. 7oes viscosity increase or decreaseE 4ow do
these values compare to accepted values for similar oilsE
*% :heck to see if the viscosity of the oil follows the temperature dependence given
in the Brookfield /6olutions to 6ticky 1roblems0 .pdf file and determine
coefficients , and B in equation $; on page !(.
9% 'or the lowest temperature, calculate the torque "scale reading$-- 2 (*).)%, the
shear stress and the shear rate. 7o this for all 9 speeds. 1lot shear rate versus
shear stress. 'ind the slope of the resultant line. 8s the slope within a ?;<
confidence interval of the values you calculated using the factors from the cardE
88# Fetchup Viscosity
$% 1lot rotational speed of the stirrer vs. viscosity. What does the data indicate about
the nature of the fluidE 6ee if a power function "insert trendline% fits the data.
!% 1lot rotational speed of the stirrer vs. viscosity on a log#log plot. What does this
"along with C$% tell you about the fluid propertiesE
*% @se linear regression of the data from C! to find the intercept at =ero 51D. This
is the dynamic yield torque.
9% Fetchup often doesnGt flow unless you bang on the bottom of the bottle. What
does this tell you about the fluidE :onstruct a plot that allows you to determine
the yield stress.
Ta+le 1*pindle 0imensions-
6pindle C$ 6pindle C9
7iameter "cm% $.>>9 (.;$
Affective &ength "cm% -.*! *.$-$