Viscometer

• US 4,302,965 A
• Filed: 06/29/1979
• Issued: 12/01/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company (ConocoPhillips)
• Original Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company (ConocoPhillips)
• Inventors: Johnson, Timothy W., O'Shaughnessy, Marion T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldberg, Gerald
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROSKOS, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US06/053,446
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 73/55, 73/56, 73/64
• US Class Current: 73/54.07
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 11/06 by timing the outflow of a known quantity

Abstract

A capillary tube viscometer is provided in which the viscosity of a fluid can be measured at a temperature above the normal boiling point of at least one component in the fluid. The fluid is heated to the desired temperature in a sealed viscometer which is constructed so as to withstand high pressure. The fluid is then allowed to flow through a capillary tube and the time required for the fluid to flow through the capillary tube is measured. The viscosity of the fluid is then calculated based on the Hagen-Poiseuille law.

Claims

1. A method for determining the viscosity of a fluid at a temperature above the normal boiling point of at least one component in the fluid comprising the steps of:

placing said fluid in a first portion of a viscometer;

pressure sealing said viscometer;

heating said fluid to said temperature;

orienting said viscometer in such a manner that said fluid flows through a capillary tube into a second portion of said viscometer;

measuring the time required for a known volume of said fluid to flow through said capillary tube into said second portion of said viscometer; and

determining the viscosity of said fluid at said temperature based on the time required for a known volume of said fluid to flow through said capillary tube into said second portion of said viscometer.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of measuring the time required for a known volume of said fluid to flow through said capillary tube into said second portion of said viscometer comprises:

triggering a first field-effect transistor oscillator when said fluid rises above a first predetermined level in second portion of said viscometer to thereby start a timing device;

triggering a second field-effect transistor oscillator when said fluid rises above a second predetermined level in said second portion of said viscometer to thereby stop said timing device, the time indicated by said timing device providing a measurement of the time required for a known volume of said fluid to flow through said capillary tube into the second portion of said viscometer, said second predetermined level being a higher level than said first predetermined level.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of measuring the time required for a known volume of said fluid to flow through said capillary tube into said second portion of said viscometer comprises:

driving a first comparator to a first output state when said fluid rises above a first predetermined level in said second portion of said viscometer;

driving said first comparator to a second output state when said fluid is not above said first predetermined level in said second portion of said viscometer;

driving a second comparator to said first output state when said fluid is not above a second predetermined level in said second portion of said viscometer;

driving said second comparator to said second output state when said fluid rises above said second predetermined level in said second portion of said viscometer;

driving the output of a third comparator to said first output state when both said first comparator and said second comparator are in said first output state to thereby start a timing device; and

driving said third comparator to said second output state when said first comparator is in said first output state and said second comparator is in said second output state to thereby stop said timing device, the time indicated on said timing device providing a determination of the time required for a known volume of said fluid to flow through said capillary tube into said second portion of said viscometer, said second predetermined level being a higher fluid level than said first predetermined level.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of determining the viscosity of said fluid comprises:

multiplying the constant π

by the acceleration due to gravity (g) to give the term π

g;

multiplying said term π

g by the length of said capillary tube plus the average height of said fluid above said capillary tube during said time required for a known volume of said fluid to flow through said capillary tube into said second portion of said viscometer (h) to give the term π

gh;

multiplying the term π

gh by the radius of the capillary tube R raised to the fourth power (R⁴) to give the term π

ghR⁴ ;

multiplying the term π

ghR⁴ by the time (t) required for a known volume of said fluid to flow through said capillary tube into said second portion of said viscometer to give the term π

ghR⁴ t;

multiplying said known volume (V) of said fluid by the constant 8 to give the term 8V;

multiplying the term 8V by the length (L) of said capillary tube to give the term 8VL; and

dividing the term π

ghR⁴ t by the term 8VL to determine said viscosity of said fluid.

5. A capillary tube viscometer comprising:

a first body having a first tubular opening therein;

a second body, having a second tubular opening therein, operably coupled to said first body;

a partition between said first tubular opening and said second tubular opening;

a capillary tube extending from said first tubular opening through said partition to said second tubular opening;

a pressure equalization tube extending from said first tubular opening through said partition to said second tubular opening and extending into said first tubular opening a distance sufficient to substantially prevent any fluid in said first tubular opening from flowing through said pressure equalization tube into said second tubular opening;

means for introducing a fluid, the viscosity of which is to be determined, into said first tubular opening;

means for measuring the time required for a known volume of said fluid to flow through said capillary tube into said second tubular opening;

means for heating said fluid in said first tubular opening;

means for measuring the temperature of said fluid in said first tubular opening; and

means for rotating the coupled said first body and said second body around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the coupled said first body and said second body, the coupled said first body and said second body being rotated in such a manner that said first body is above said second body when it is desired to determine the viscosity of said fluid, the coupled said first body and said second body not being rotated in such a manner that said first body is above said second body until said fluid has been heated to a desired temperature, said fluid containing at least one component having a boiling point lower than said desired temperature.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said means for measuring the time required for a known volume of said fluid to flow through said capillary tube into said second tubular opening comprises:

a first capacitive sensor located in a lower portion of said second tubular opening;

a second capacitive sensor located in an upper portion of said second tubular opening;

a first field-effect transistor oscillator, said first capacitive sensor forming a capacitive element which is an integral portion of said first field-effect transistor oscillator, the values of the elements which make up said first field-effect transistor oscillator being chosen in such a manner that said first field-effect transistor oscillator will oscillate only when fluid covers said first capacitive sensor;

a second field-effect transistor oscillator, said second capacitive sensor forming a capacitive element which is an integral portion of said second field-effect transistor oscillator, the values of the elements which make up said second field-effect transistor oscillator being chosen in such a manner that said second field-effect transistor oscillator will oscillate only when fluid covers said second capacitive sensor;

a timing means;

means for supplying the oscillating output of said first field-effect transistor oscillator to said timing means; and

means for supplying the oscillating output of said second field-effect transistor oscillator to said timing means, said timing means being initiated by the oscillating output of said first field-effect transistor oscillator and being stopped by the oscillating output of said second field-effect transistor oscillator, said second capacitive sensor being located above said first capacitive sensor when said first body is above said second body.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first field-effect transistor oscillator and said second field-effect transistor oscillator each comprises:

a field-effect transistor having a gate, source and drain;

a crystal having first and second terminals;

a power supply;

a first inductor;

means for electrically connecting the drain of said field-effect transistor through said first inductor to said power supply;

means for electrically connecting the drain of said field-effect transistor to the second terminal of said crystal;

a first capacitor;

means for electrically connecting said first capacitive sensor through said first capacitor to the second terminal of said crystal;

a second capacitor;

a second inductor;

means for electrically connecting said second capacitor in parallel with the capacitance formed by either said first capacitive sensor or said second capacitive sensor;

means for electrically connecting said second inductor in parallel with the capacitor formed by either said first capacitive sensor or said second capacitive sensor;

means for electrically connecting the parallel combination of said second capacitor, said second inductor, and said first or second capacitive sensor to ground;

means for electrically connecting the source of said field-effect transistor through said first resistor to ground;

a second resistor;

means for electrically connecting the first terminal of said crystal to ground through said second resistor;

means for electrically connecting the gate of said field-effect transistor to the first terminal of said crystal; and

means for electrically connecting the gate of said field-effect transistor through said second resistor to ground, the values of said first and second capacitors and said second inductor being chosen in such a manner that said first or second field-effect transistor oscillator oscillates only when fluid covers said first or second capacitive sensor, respectively.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said means for measuring the time required for a known volume of said fluid to flow through said capillary tube into said second tubular opening comprises:

a first conductivity sensor located in a lower portion of said second tubular opening;

a second conductivity sensor located in an upper portion of said second tubular opening;

first comparator means having first and second inputs and an output;

means for electrically connecting a first input of said first comparator means to said first conductivity sensor;

means for connecting the second input of said first comparator means to a first voltage supply;

a second comparator means having a first and second input and an output;

means for electrically connecting a first input of said first comparator means to said second conductivity sensor;

means for electrically connecting the second input of said first comparator means to said first power supply;

a third comparator means having first and second inputs and an output;

means for electrically connecting the output of said first comparator means and the output of said second comparator means to a first input of said third comparator means;

means for connecting the second input of said third comparator means to said power supply;

a timing means; and

means for supplying the output of said third comparator means to said timing means, said timing means being initiated when the fluid in said second tubular opening rises above said first conductivity sensor so as to reduce the voltage level at said first input of said first comparator means, said timing means being stopped when said fluid rises above said second conductivity sensor so as to reduce the voltage level at the first input terminal of said second comparator means, the time indicated by said timing means providing a measurement of the time required for a known volume of said fluid to flow through said capillary tube into said second tubular opening, said second conductivity sensor being above said first conductivity sensor when said first body is above said second body.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said means for measuring the time required for a known volume of said fluid to flow through said capillary tube into said second tubular opening comprises:

a first conductivity sensor located in a lower portion of said second tubular opening;

a second conductivity sensor located in an upper portion of said second tubular opening;

a first voltage source;

a first operational amplifier having a non-inverting input, an inverting input and an output;

means for electrically connecting said first voltage source to the inverting input of said first operational amplifier;

means for electrically connecting the inverting input of said first operational amplifier to said first conductivity sensor;

a second voltage source;

means for electrically connecting the non-inverting input of said first operational amplifier to said second voltage source;

a second operational amplifier having a non-inverting input, an inverting input and an output;

means for electrically connecting said first voltage source to the non-inverting input of said second operational amplifier;

means for electrically connecting the non-inverting input of said second operational amplifier to said second conductivity sensor;

means for electrically connecting the inverting input of said second operational amplifier to said second voltage source;

a third operational amplifier having a non-inverting input, an inverting input and an output;

means for electrically connecting the output of said first operational amplifier and the output of said second operational amplifier to the non-inverting input of said third operational amplifier;

means for electrically connecting the inverting input of said third operational amplifier to said second voltage source;

a timing means; and

means for initiating said timing means when the output of said third operational amplifier is in a first state and for stopping said timing means when the output of said third operational amplifier is in a second state, the output of said third operational amplifier being in said first state when fluid covers said first conductivity sensor so as to reduce the voltage level at the inverting input of said first operational amplifier and said fluid is not above said second conductivity sensor and the voltage level at the non-inverting input of said second operational amplifier is not reduced, the output of said third operational amplifier being in said second state when fluid covers said first conductivity sensor so as to reduce the voltage level at the inverting input of said first operational amplifier and fluid covers said second conductivity sensor so as to reduce the voltage at the non-inverting input of said second operational amplifier, the time indicated by said timing means providing a measurement of the time required for a known volume of said fluid to flow through said capillary tube into said second tubular opening, said second conductivity sensor being above said first conductivity sensor when said first body is above said second body.