AZEOTROPY 2020

Viscometer Problem Statement

Abstract submission deadline – 11:59 p.m., 31st January, 2020

Motivation
Creativity and experimentation are often considered to be core elements of the industrial
design process. Experiments on an industrial scale can cost millions of dollars. Repeating the
experiment due to poor control groups, or insufficient samples for statistical analysis, is not an
option. For this reason, the design phase is possibly the most crucial.

Aim
Design an experimental setup/instrument to find the viscosity of 2 given Newtonian fluids, one
with high viscosity and the other with low viscosity. All other required material values to
calculate viscosity will be provided.

Participation Procedure
 Participants will firstly have to get their unique AZeo Ids by filling the form on the link -
http://azeotropy.org/2020/azeoid/ .
 Register for the Viscometer competition by filling the form on the link
https://azeotropy.org/2020/competitions/viscometer .

Judging Criteria
1. Idea and Understanding - (20 Marks) - Based on viva on your understanding of the
concepts involved in the design of your experiment. A thorough knowledge of the
assumptions and biases involved in the governing concept behind your model and their
applicability in real time situations, sources of error and precautions necessary while
working with the apparatus, and other questions completely related and relevant to the
ideas involved in design or general knowledge in fluid mechanics as per the judge's’
discretion.
2. Design - (35 Marks) - This is where ideas turn into reality.

 You would be marked based on the utility of the setup and mechanism (23
Marks:9+9+5) used to achieve the design that aligns with the idea behind the design.
You need to present your final answer for viscosity as three confidence interval and
will be marked accordingly as follows:
For sample liquid 1, if actual viscosity value provided on the Material data sheet
available from the supplier lies in
85% confidence interval - 9 Marks

90% confidence interval – 6.5 Marks

95% confidence interval – 5 Marks

Otherwise – 3 Marks

The same marking scheme will be applied for sample liquid 2.

And remaining 5 Marks will be awarded based on judge’s view on final execution of
the setup you claimed as per the abstract submitted.

 Along with this, your model will be judged on the basis of sophistication and
calibration (12 Marks:6+6) involved to reduce error and get accurate experimental
measurements of the relevant model parameters necessary to get the result, this will
be quantified using following formula

For sample liquid 1

X = S.D. using your measured viscosity as mean

actual viscosity
Marks = (1-X) *6

The same marking scheme will be applied for sample liquid 2.

Here S.D. stands for standard deviation,

Note: An added emphasis on utility which implies you would be judged purely on the basis of
the mechanism and other arrangements made in your design to achieve the desired objective
of the experiment or other necessary requirements in your model for e.g. additional
arrangement needed to properly calibrate the experiment or make accurate measurement,
i.e. How good your design is to achieve the required necessary objectives involved and how
closely your design replicates the conditions involved behind the concept used.
3. Creativity - (15 Marks) - We wish to promote innovative ideas or efforts to instigate design
of trivial but challenging model design or maybe relatively easy model design but with added
sophistication to ensure accurate results. You may be marked on the basis of the design of
your other peer competitors and the experience of the Judge in respect to the design
attempted.

4. Results and Calculations - (15 Marks) - The model that achieves result closest to the value
provided on the Material data sheet available from the supplier would be given full marks and
other models would be marked relatively,

i.e. (100 - % error with respect to the best model’s value)/10

5. Abstract - (15 Marks) - The guidelines for writing abstract are mentioned in the abstract
screening section. You are marked on your abstract mainly to ensure good quality abstract
submissions both in terms of required information and its document structure.

Abstract Screening
It is mandatory for each team to submit an abstract of your model and progress made in pdf
format to be eligible for participation on the event day. It serves as a brief description of the
model prototype. Based on abstract submissions, teams will be shortlisted for the event day
competition. A mail regarding your selection will be sent to you. Deadline for abstract
submission is 31st January, 2020 at 11:59 pm.

The abstract should contain the following details:

1. Introductory front-page containing Competition Name, College Name, contact information

of all the team members and their Team ID.

2. Content page: Provide a list of divisions and pages on which they start.

3. Theory and Concept used: Summarize within 2 pages.

4. Properly labelled diagram of model specifying overall design of the model including all
components showing how all the different components fit in and their dimensions. You must
also include a separate list of all the materials used with their costing.

The expenditure on the design should not exceed INR 6,000.

You would be provided a table sized 1.5m X 1m and your complete model setup is expected to
fit within these dimensions.
5. Procedure: Within 2 pages, summarize systematic steps used to make measurements and
precautions to be taken.

6. Observations: Provide tables with suitable headers with units of the relevant parameters
that would be measured to find the result on event day. Also add measured values of constant
parameters that may be used to calculate the result but are not required to calculate for every
run of the experiment.

7. Calculations and graph: In terms of design variables and experimental parameters, show
systematically the manipulations needed to be made on observations. Provide tables for X and
Y dimensions used to make necessary plots (if required). Also, present calculations required to
find confidence intervals or any other necessary calculations needed for complete
understanding.

The final calculations performed on event day are mandatory to be submitted with the
abstract brought on event day.

NOTE: Tables must contain 15 empty rows or less as you will have to bring a copy of the final
abstract submitted on the day of event and have to write final readings in the space and
submit.

8. Sources of error: Briefly explain within 1 page.

9. References: Mention References, if any used to design the model and experiment or its parts
or to understand the theory and concepts used.

NOTE:

1. Attaching images of your model with your abstract is a plus for getting shortlisted, though
not compulsory. You are not expected to complete the practical aspect of the model in the first
stage.

2. Upload your abstracts with file name as ‘ED_<TeamID>.pdf’ on the online portal. Size of
uploaded file must be less than 1.5MB.

3. Modified abstracts can be uploaded on the portal again, but the final abstract submitted
before 11:59 pm, 31st January, 2020 will only be considered. Your model must be based on the
final abstract submitted.

4. The problem statement available on the website on the abstract submission deadline will be
considered for all evaluations.
5. Any changes in the problem statement and updates regarding the competition will be
notified to the registered participants via email.

6. The decision concerning the selection of abstracts rests with Team AZeotropy 2020. No
further correspondence shall be entertained with respect to this. Teams must bring a copy of
their submitted abstract on the event day (which they may refer to while giving the overview).

Sample Ideas and References

A bunch of ideas for references have been provided here. You may try to work on any of these
ideas. These have been provided just for your reference and you are encouraged to think out
of the box and design your own setup or attempt some other textbook problem or ideas in
reality to achieve the aim.

1. Using Stokes Law- You could simple well fabricated falling ball viscometer design and use
automatic sensing system to estimate time for precision. Or, could design apparatus to
support data gathering for balls of different sizes and moving velocities and given that stokes
law will hold for the range of operation perform data analysis to estimate viscosity and for
sophistication use novel ideas to make precise required measurements.

2. Using Poiseuille Equation – Similarly you could use system flow underspecified conditions
could perform further accurate analysis considering end effects.

3. You could also try designing with ideas utilized in already existing viscometers like
rotational/vibrational viscometers or Ostwald/redwood viscometer designs.

4. You can try attempting new ideas to measure viscosity like based on textbook analysis of
falling film or, designs used for measuring behaviour of other parameters depending on
viscosity information and utilize it in inverse manner regulating the output behaviour to
estimate viscosity.

Team Specification and General Rules

1. A maximum of 4 participants are allowed per team.

2. Students of different institutions can also form a team.

3. At least one team member must be from Chemical engineering background.

4. Teams should first register and get a unique Team ID exclusive for this competition.
5. No participant can register in more than one team. In such an instance, both the teams will
be subjected to disqualification.

6. All abstracts must be original. Plagiarism in any form (including and not limited to 1)
Submission of similar abstracts by teams from the same institution or, 2) Any pre-fabricated
models/instruments available for achieving the required aim) or falsifying information in the
abstracts shall lead to immediate disqualification.

7. Decision regarding final selection of teams’ rests with Team AZeotropy 2020.

8. No second attempts will be allowed for any team on the event day.

9. The judging criteria and specifications may be subject to changes until the event day.

10. Final decision-making authority lies with Team AZeotropy, IIT Bombay.

Final round on event day

1. On event day, you would be provided with a Table and general 220 Volts A.C. power supply.
All other requirements have to be brought by the teams. In the case where teams have some
specific requirements which cannot be carried easily or have to be made prior to get their
model working, please mention them as additional requirements heading in abstract before
the references subsection and also inform the manager undersigned about the same prior to
finalizing your design and starting to work on abstract.

2. On event day, you would be provided with 500ml each of 2 different sample liquids and you
are allowed to use 7 observations at max. for each liquid sample (total 14 observations at
max. for both the liquids combined) to arrive at result out of which 3 observations each for
both the liquids have to be taken in presence of an AZeotropy representative all of which
have to be used in your calculations and results.

3. Winners of the competition will be decided on the basis of the model presented on the
event day and its performance.

4. Participants have to bring all the requirements by themselves.

5. Participants are required to carry their own safety equipment like gloves and masks.

6. The entry must leave no residue on the table or surrounding area.

7. Chemicals must be transported safely to the site.

8. Cost of making the entire model should not exceed INR 6,000.

9. Each container must be clearly and legibly labelled with appropriate name.
Note: The purpose of giving two different sample liquids is to check test the correctness and
applicability of your model over a range of viscosity.

Certificate Policy
1. Top 3 teams will be awarded with Certificates and Cash Prizes.

2. Certificate and Cash prizes will also be awarded to a team with “Most Innovative Model”
(apart from top 3 teams).

3. Certificate of Participation will be given to all the qualified teams performing on the event
day.

Contact
For any queries related to the Problem Statement or Registration, participants can contact:

Manish Mehta

Competitions Manager

Mobile: +91-9892040971

E-mail: manish@azeotropy.org