DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION,

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : N. YESU MARIAMMA
Designation : Senior Lecturer
Branch : Electronics & Instrumentation
Institute : Govt. Polytechnic for Minorities, Guntur.
Year/Semester : IV - Semester
Subject : Process Instrumentation – II
Sub. Code : AEI - 405
Topic : Viscosity Measurement (4/5)
Duration : 100 min
Sub Topic : Rotating Viscometer
Teaching Aids : Diagrams
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 Objectives

Upon completion of this topic the student will be

able to know :

• The principle of operation of rotating viscometer

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 Rotating concentric cylinder viscometer

1. Fixed end torsion wire

2. Rotating cylinder

3. Stationary cylinder

4. Liquid under test

Fig 1

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Rotating Concentric Cylinder Type Viscometer

• It consists of two concentric cylinders, inner cylinder

and outer cylinder
• The outer cylinder is rotated at a constant angular
speed and the inner cylinder is stationary
• A small annular space contains the fluid whose
viscosity is to be measured
• The viscous drag due to the fluid between the cylinders
produce a torque on the inner cylinder

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• If the annular space (r2 – r1) is sufficiently small in

comparison to the radius of the inner cylinder, then a

torque produced on vertical side of the inner cylinder

• The relation between coefficient viscosity and torque is

given by

μ = [T1(r2 – r1)] /(2πwr12r2L)

T1 = [µ2πwr12r2L] ÷ (r2 – r1)

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• When the annular space ‘a’ is very small then additional

viscous drag torque is produced on the inner cylinder

due to bottom disk

• The relationship between coefficient of viscosity and

the torque is given by

µ = (2T2a) ÷ (Π wr14)

T2 = (μπwr14) ÷ 2a
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• The total torque produced on inner cylinder is T = T1 + T2

μ2πwr12r24 μπwr14
+
= (r2 – r1) 2a

2r2L r12
= μπwr12 +
(r2 – r1) 2a

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• The coefficient of viscosity

T
μ=

2r2L r12
πr12w +
r2 – r1 2a

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 Applications:

• Automobile industries

• Petroleum Industries

• Paint Manufacturing

• Soaps Manufacturing

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 Fig 2
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 Summary

We have discussed about :

• Principle of operation of the rotating concentric cylinder

viscometer

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 Quiz

1. Rotating concentric cylinder viscometer is very useful for

a) Low viscous fluids

b) High viscous fluids

c) Medium viscous fluids

d) None

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 Frequently asked questions

1. Explain the principle of operation of the rotating

concentric cylinder viscometer

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