T E S T I N G
The new contact-free viscometer
- which measures
the viscosity of liquid
through observation of the
rotation of a sphere being driven by
an electromagnetic interaction – has
been developed in collaboration with
the Institute of Industrial Science at
the University of Tokyo within the
framework of the Japan Science and
Technology Agency (JST).
Within a sample tube, an aluminium
sphere is submerged in the sample
to be measured. This is situated
dead centre of a rotor equipped with
horizontally-adjacent magnets which
create a rotating magnetic field. Eddy
currents are thereby induced in the Al
sphere, and the resulting Lorentz Interaction
between the magnetic field
and these eddy currents generates
torque that rotates the sphere. The
(non-magnetic) aluminium sphere is
thereby driven contact-free, its speed
of rotation being a direct function
of sample viscosity. From this, the
viscosity is calculated based on the
sphere’s angular velocity.
Bell Technologies’ Gavin Bell says
the measurement is non-contact
and disposable with a small volume
requirement…as little as 0.3ml or
even 0.09ml as an option. “As things
occur in a sealed disposable tube,
the measurement is also sanitary and
items fully disposable with no cleaning
required and with the risk of cross
contamination at zero,” he says.
“Anaerobic and aerosol free conditions
are also possible. Measurement
time is very quick with stable result
anywhere from one second to one
minute - viscosity dependant.”
The technique allows users to
cover a wide range measurement
with viscosities from 0.1 through
1,000,000 mPas. Course range is
achieved through sphere diameter
selection - 1.5, 2 or 4.7mm. Thermostatically
controlled temperature
environment allows a temperature
range from 0 … 200°C as achievable.
Pressurisation is also possible for
allowing measurement of highly volatile
sample at well above their boiling
points. Differing rheological properties
are accommodated for shear rates
0.01 …150 s-1 through drive speed,
plus the flow curves creation during
measurement.
Bell says an inbuilt CMOS camera
allows tracking of the measurement
process and lets the user see such
events as coagulation or precipitation
occurring during measurement, and
impurities being present – or assists
R&D such as seeing viscosity change
at phase transition.
Innovative New Measurement of
VISCOSITY
KEM – a long-standing innovator and
manufacturer of liquid analysis tools for
laboratory use based in Japan – has released
a new instrument…EMS-1000S.
Scientific instruments from Japan's
region for high technology – Kyoto
Kyoto Electronics Manufacturing Co. Ltd
Density / Specific
Gravity Instruments
Auto Titration Systems
(Optional multi-sample)
Karl Fischer Moisture Titrators
Refractometers
(Research and routine
grade instruments)
BX1 - Portable Brix
+64 9 525 1875 | info@belltechnology.co.nz | belltechnology.co.nz
Automatic Titrators • Potentiometric and Karl Fischer • Refractometers • Density Instruments • Beverage Analysers
FT613
38 FEBRUARY 2019
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