New Viscometer Analyser Launched

Icon Scientific, the new leader in physical properties analysis for midstream and downstream production, has launched a brand new Viscometer product that joins its expanding range of world-leading process analysers.

Offering a highly accurate and repeatable measurement that determines the dynamic viscosity of a liquid, Viscometer’s flexible operation enables a range of petroleum products to be measured within the repeatability criteria of ASTM D445, including lube oils, lube oil stocks, biodiesel and fuel oils. Kinematic viscosity can also be calculated.

Viscometer’s reliable viscosity measurement is calculated by measuring the differential pressure across a capillary tube held at a constant temperature. Precise temperature control is achieved by immersing the measuring capillary in a small stirred heated oil bath. Viscometer can accommodate a wide range of pressures and temperatures at the inlet and can return sample direct to the process; the use of variable speed metering pump means the single capillary tube can be adapted for the wide range of viscosity measurements required by different products.

By offering an extensive range of measuring temperatures and sample inlet and outlet conditions, the need for additional sample handling components is minimised - enabling Viscometer’s overall system architecture to be streamlined for a more reliable measurement.

Viscometer boasts icon’s next-generation analyser design that integrates a state-of-the-art touchscreen user interface into a robust, explosion-proof housing.

A widescreen graphical user interface, and software that features a wide range of auto validation, calibration and in-built diagnostic options, makes operation simple. Alarm condition may be allocated as active or inactive, with alarms notified on screen and stored in an alarm history. Active alarms can be set to activate a warning alarm contact for notification, or a fatal alarm contact to suspend operation.

Digital control options include Wired Modbus RTU (RS485) and Modbus RTU over Ethernet (TC/IP) available as standard. OPC (wired) is also available.

Viscometer is certified to the latest ATEX, IECEx and TIIS (Japan) standards and is suitable for zone 1 or zone 2 uses, and is ETL listed for the USA and Canada Class 1 Div1 Group CD, depending on application.

“Accuracy is crucial when determining a product’s resistance to flow, with even minor measurement errors potentially costing producers hundreds of thousands of dollars if a blend adjustment is made,” says Kevin Fogarty, Managing Director, Icon Scientific.

“By engineering our optimised measurement technology on a proven testing method, Viscometer delivers an exceptionally accurate and trustworthy measurement.