Upgrade to Datalogging Software for Lab & Online Viscometer Systems

Viscosity measurement specialist Hydramotion (UK) has released a “multi-unit” version of its ViscoLink interface software, enabling users of the company’s Viscolite® VL700HP benchtop viscometer or XL7 online process viscometer to capture, display and log data from up to 16 units running simultaneously.

ViscoLink is an easy-to-use program for viewing data or optimising configuration at the touch of a key. The software captures data from the Hydramotion viscometer(s) and presents all measured and calculated variables in a highly visible user-friendly format. Parameters and functions are all intuitively grouped and accessible via either the function keys or the mouse. Simple navigation combines with appropriate use of colour, clear graphics and unambiguous labels to create an interface that provides all the relevant information at a glance with no need for multiple or repetitive keystrokes.

The main display shows viscosity, temperature and temperature-corrected viscosity. Either dynamic or kinematic viscosity can be displayed, with a range of user-selectable units including centipoise or pascal-seconds (for dynamic viscosity), centistokes or square millimetres per second (for kinematic viscosity). Temperature can be displayed in Celsius (°C) or Fahrenheit (°F). Other displays provide a comprehensive range of operational and configuration data.

A key feature is the facility to export data to Microsoft® Excel™ for logging and analysis. Included in the package is a preformatted Excel workbook, which displays logged data in both tabular and chart formats updated in real time.

Installed within seconds, the ViscoLink package runs on the Windows™ operating system for PC, takes up negligible space on the hard disk and requires minimal system resources. No programming knowledge is required.

The mains-powered Viscolite VL700HP is a benchtop version of the popular Viscolite VL700-S portable viscometer for real-time continuous viscosity monitoring in laboratory-scale equipment. It offers all the benefits of the portable model with the added advantages of a 4-20 mA analogue viscosity output and a serial data link for easy connection to a PC.

Viscolite operation is quick and easy. As with the portable instrument, the solid rod sensor is simply immersed in the fluid under test and viscosity is immediately displayed on the dedicated readout unit. Once measurements are completed, the probe is cleaned within seconds. The VL700HP-T15 small-sample model is capable of measuring fluid volumes down to just 15 ml.

Unaffected by flow rate or bubbles of air or gas, the high-performance XL7 online viscometer is a “bolt-on-and-go” device providing continuous real-time viscosity measurement in any process. The sensor is an all-welded construction which can be mounted on tanks or pipes at any location and in any orientation using any process fitting, with no need for any ancillary pipework. It always operates at process temperature, which eliminates the chance of potential errors arising from localised cooling of the fluid. The high-temperature HT2 model can be used at up to 450 degrees C (842 degrees F) without special cooling.

Hydramotion viscometers have high sensitivity and excellent repeatability, even at low viscosity. They are all factory-calibrated to traceable international standards, so no on-site calibration or commissioning is required. Rugged construction and the absence of moving parts means that a Hydramotion viscometer needs no accessories and virtually no maintenance, giving an unbeatably low cost of ownership.