Special viscometer resists acid and sticky solids

Hydramotion, a world leader in the design and manufacture of precision instruments for the measurement of viscosity in industrial processes, has solved a sticky problem for a leading Japanese company

The company, a global supplier of oxidation catalysts and super absorbent polymers, was looking for an instrument that could reliably measure the viscosity of organic acid solutions.

The difficulty was that these solutions contained semi-solid gel particles in suspension, and these could disrupt measurements if they adhered to the sensor.

Moreover, volatile solvents were involved, so the viscometer would also have to be suitable for use in a hazardous area.

In close consultation with the client, Hydramotion designed and built a custom version of its intrinsically safe XL7 on-line viscometer specially designed to meet these challenges.

The sensor was constructed from corrosion-resistant Hastelloy C-22, which would not be attacked by the acid.

While the vibrational measurement technology deters material adhesion in any case, the risk was reduced still further by making the sensing element spherical instead of the more usual cylindrical shape and then giving the whole probe a highly-polished finish.

Chosen for its reliability, ease of use and rugged construction, the XL7 viscometer is a field-hardened, "bolt-on-and-go" device that can be installed anywhere quickly and easily.

There is no need for on-site re-calibration, and as there are no moving parts, seals or bearings to wear out, routine maintenance is not required.

The intrinsically safe version is certified to ATEX Ex II 1G, enabling it to be installed in the most hazardous environment (Zone 0).

The special instrument in this case was up and running within a few hours of being delivered, and has performed flawlessly ever since.

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