CHAPTER 2: LIQUID VISCOSITY MEASUREMENT

Objective

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
to as flow. Fluid viscosity is the property, which indicates the fluids resistance to flow due to
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
considered to be Newtonian. Newtons Law of viscosity can be written as follows:

.................................................................................................................(2-1)
y
Where is the shear stress applied to the fluid, 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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Figure 2-1. Flow Between Two 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:

* ...................................................................................................................(2-1)
Where is kinematic viscosity of liquid and is density of the liquid. Common units for
absolute viscosity are illustrated in Table 2-1.

Table 2-1. Units of Dynamic (Absolute) Viscosity

Units System
Units

S.I.

c.g.s

Field

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.
Kinematic Viscosity Measurement Using a Cannon-Fenske Viscometer

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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.

Figure 2-2. Cannon-Fenske Viscometer

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 sample into viscometer, invert viscometer, immerse tube A into liquid and
apply suction to I, which causes the sample to rise to etched line E. Turn the
viscometer to normal position and wipe tube A clean.
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 plumb bob in tube I.
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7. Apply suction to tube A and bring sample into bulb B a short distance above mark
C.
8. The efflux time is measured by allowing the sample to flow freely through mark C,
measuring the time for the meniscus to pass from C to E.
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:

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.

Table 2-2. Recommended Viscosity Ranges for The Cannon-Fenske Routine Viscometers
(Cannon-Fenske Viscometer Instrument Manual)
Size
25
50
75
100
150
200
300
350
400
450
500
600

cSt / Second
Centistokes
Approximate constant
Range
0.002
0.5 to 2
0.004
0.8 to 4
0.008
1.6 to 8
0.015
3 to5
0.035
7 to 35
0.1
20 to 100
0.25
50 to 250
0.5
100 to 500
1.2
240 to 1200
2.5
500 to 2500
8
1600 to 8000
20
4000 to 20000

Laboratory Experiments

Place fluid sample in a Cannon-Fenske tube as explained in this chapter and put it in a
controlled temperature bath.

Measure the time that takes to the sample to go from mark C to mark E for four or
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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