C H A PT E R 2: L I Q U I D V ISC OSI T Y M E ASU R E M E N T
O bjective
Calculate viscosity (dynamic or absolute, and kinematic) and determine how this property varies
with changes in temperature for a constant-composition multi-component hydrocarbon mixture.
Introduction
When shear stress is applied to a fluid it will suffer a continuous deformation, which is referred
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an unbalanced shearing force (see Figure 2-1). Fluids characterized as Newtonian fluids exhibit
constant values for viscosity with variations in the shear rate, everything else being constant. As
a first approximation, the liquids found in petroleum reservoirs (hydrocarbons and water) are
FRQVLGHUHGWREH1HZWRQLDQ1HZWRQ¶V/DZRIYLVFRVLW\FDQEHZULWWHQDV follows:
§ 'v ·
W P ¨¨ ¸¸ .................................................................................................................(2-1)
© 'y ¹
Where W is the shear stress applied to the fluid, P is the absolute viscosity of a Newtonian
liquid, and 'v / 'y is the velocity gradient (flow or deformation).
The variation in viscosity of liquid petroleum is due to the variation in composition, which
results from reductions in pressure and the resultant liberation of gases or vapors. A study of
such variation is beyond the scope of this laboratory. However, changes in temperature are
another important source of variation of viscosity for constant composition hydrocarbon
mixtures. This is the objective of this study. Thus, the purpose of this laboratory exercise is to
determine how the viscosity of a multi-component hydrocarbon varies with temperature.
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F igure 2-1. F low Between T wo Plates (Modified from Bear, 1972)
There is a multitude of methods for measuring viscosity. Each method often has its own relative
viscosity scale, which is good only for that particular method. For instance, two such units are
Saybolt (SSU) or the Redwood scale. Viscosity can be absolute (dynamic) or kinematic.
Absolute viscosity is commonly used for equations describing the flow of fluids in porous media.
It is related to the kinematic viscosity through density:
P Q * U ...................................................................................................................(2-1)
Where Q is kinematic viscosity of liquid and U is density of the liquid. Common units for
absolute viscosity are illustrated in Table 2-1.
T able 2-1. Units of Dynamic (A bsolute) V iscosity
Units System S.I. c.g.s Field
Units N*s/m2 Dyne*s/cm2 = Poise cP = Poise/100
The kinematic viscosity is usually given in centi-Stokes (cSt). Multiplying cSt by density in
g/cc, the dynamic (absolute) viscosity is obtained in cP.
K inematic V iscosity Measurement Using a C annon-Fenske V iscometer
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Figure 2-2 presents a Cannon-Fenske viscometer. This instrument is used to measure kinematic
viscosity, which will be used (and density measurements) to compute dynamic (absolute)
viscosity.
F igure 2-2. C annon-Fenske V iscometer
The instructions for using this apparatus are (Cannon-Fenske Viscometer Instrument Manual):
1. The viscometer should be cleaned with a suitable solvent and dried in a stream of clean,
filtered N2.
2. The instrument should be periodically cleaned with chromic acid to remove any possible
traces of organic deposits.
3. If a possibility of lint, dust, or other solid material is present in the liquid sample, this
may be removed by filtering through sintered glass filter or fine mesh screen
4. To introduce samplHLQWRYLVFRPHWHULQYHUWYLVFRPHWHULPPHUVHWXEH³$´LQWROLTXLGDQG
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5. Insert the viscometer into a holder and place in constant temperature bath. Allow some
minutes for viscometer to reach equilibrium at desired temperature (10 min for 100oF; the
higher the temperature the longer the waiting time).
6. Vertical alignment may be accomplished in bath by suspending a plXPEERELQWXEH³,´
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9. To repeat efflux time measurement, repeat steps 7 and 8.
10. The kinematic viscosity is calculated by multiplying the efflux time by the viscometer
constant.
Every Cannon-Fenske tube has its own calibrated constant, which is multiplied by the recorded
time in second to obtain kinematic viscosity in cSt, that is:
Q k *t
where k is the viscometer constant in cSt/seconds and t is time in seconds. It is particularly
important to remember the following points:
Use the correct viscometer size. The best results will be obtained operating near the
center of the viscometer range. For instance, if the fluid has a viscosity of 100 cSt, then
use a tube size 300 (range 50-250). Table 2-2 shows the tube size with their respective
viscosity ranges and approximated constants.
Avoid overlapping the viscometer. Using either too much or too little sample will
produce inaccurate values of viscosity. The volume that fills the tube from E to the inlet
of the A tube will approximately half fill the bulb marked H.
Use the correct calibration factor, k. The constant shown in Table 2-2 are only
approximated. Each viscometer tube must be calibrated regularly with standard fluid to
find the correct constant.
After loading the sample, wait at least 10 minutes before making measurements. Some
time is required to allow the sample to equilibrate at the temperature of the water bath
and to allow air bubbles to segregate.
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Use special methods for opaque samples. For high viscosity oil samples, which are
sometimes quite opaque, it is necessary to use auxiliary illumination to improve
judgments of the passage of the interface past the starting and ending marks.
T able 2-2. Recommended V iscosity Ranges for T he C annon-Fenske Routine V iscometers
(C annon-Fenske V iscometer Instrument M anual)
Size cSt / Second C entistokes
A pproximate constant Range
25 0.002 0.5 to 2
50 0.004 0.8 to 4
75 0.008 1.6 to 8
100 0.015 3 to5
150 0.035 7 to 35
200 0.1 20 to 100
300 0.25 50 to 250
350 0.5 100 to 500
400 1.2 240 to 1200
450 2.5 500 to 2500
500 8 1600 to 8000
600 20 4000 to 20000
L aboratory E xperiments
Place fluid sample in a Cannon-Fenske tube as explained in this chapter and put it in a
controlled temperature bath.
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five different temperatures (same as those of density measurements).
References
1. Cannon-Fenske Viscometer Instrument Manual.
2. Bear Jacob, Dynamics of Fluids in Porous Media, Dover Publications, INC. New York 1972.
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