Mass detection capillary viscometer

An apparatus for determining the viscosity of a fluid over plural shear rates using a decreasing pressure differential, said apparatus comprising:

• a lumen having a first end and a second end and being positioned at an angle to a horizontal reference greater than zero degrees, said lumen having a first known dimension;
• a flow restrictor having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being in fluid communication with said second end and wherein said outlet is arranged to deliver any fluid that passes therethrough to a collector, said flow restrictor including some known dimensions;
• said lumen and said flow restrictor being initially occupied by a continuous, non-moving sample of fluid therein;
• a sensor for detecting the changing weight of the collector over time once the sample of fluid begins moving and passes from said outlet into said collector, said sensor generating data relating to the changing weight of the collector over time;
• said first end being exposed to atmospheric pressure creating a pressure differential between said first end and said outlet, said sample of fluid moving through said lumen and said flow restrictor at a first shear rate caused by said pressure differential, said movement of fluid causing said pressure differential to decrease from said first shear rate for generating said plural shear rates;
• and
• a computer, coupled to said sensor, for calculating the viscosity of the fluid based on said data relating to the changing weight of the collector over time, said first known dimension of said lumen and said some known dimensions of said flow restrictor.

An apparatus for detecting the changing mass of a fluid moving at plural shear rates caused by a decreasing pressure differential, said apparatus comprising:

• a lumen having a first end and a second end and being positioned at angle to a horizontal reference greater than zero degrees;
• a flow restrictor having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being in fluid communication with said second end and wherein said outlet is arranged to deliver the fluid that passes therethrough to a collector;
• said lumen and said flow restrictor being initially occupied by a continuous, non-moving sample of fluid therein;
• a sensor for detecting the changing weight of said lumen and said flow restrictor over time as the fluid passes from said outlet into said collector;
• and
• said first end being exposed to atmospheric pressure creating a pressure differential between said first end and said outlet, said sample of fluid moving through said lumen and said flow restrictor at a first shear rate caused by said pressure differential, said movement of fluid causing said pressure differential to decrease from said first shear rate for generating said plural shear rates.

An apparatus for determining the viscosity of a fluid over plural shear rates using a decreasing pressure differential, said apparatus comprising:

• a lumen having a first end and a second end and being positioned at an angle to a horizontal reference greater than zero degrees, said lumen having a first known dimension;
• a flow restrictor having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being in fluid communication with said second end and wherein said outlet is arranged to deliver the fluid that passes therethrough to a collector;
• said lumen and said flow restrictor being initially occupied by a continuous, non-moving sample of fluid therein;
• a sensor for detecting the changing weight of said lumen and said flow restrictor over time as the fluid passes from said outlet into said collector, said sensor generating data relating to the changing weight of the fluid over time;
• said first end being exposed to atmospheric pressure creating a pressure differential between said first end and said outlet, said sample of fluid moving through said lumen and said flow restrictor at a first shear rate caused by said pressure differential, said movement of fluid causing said pressure differential to decrease from said first shear rate for generating said plural shear rates;
• and
• a computer, coupled to said sensor, for calculating the viscosity of the fluid based on said data relating to the changing weight of the fluid over time and said some known dimensions.

A method for detecting the changing mass of a fluid moving at plural shear rates caused by a decreasing pressure differential, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a lumen having a first end and a second end and positioned at an angle to a horizontal reference greater than zero degrees;
• (b) coupling an inlet of a flow restrictor, having an outlet, to said second end of said lumen;
• (c) disposing a collector on a mass detector and positioning said outlet to deliver any fluid flowing through said outlet into said collector;
• (d) coupling a suction source to said first end and activating said source to draw up a sample of the fluid from said collector to form a continuous sample of fluid that occupies said lumen and said flow restrictor, thereby establishing a pressure differential between said first end and said outlet;
• (e) obtaining an initial weight of said collector by said mass detector;
• (f) exposing said first end to atmospheric pressure to cause said sample of fluid to move through said lumen and said flow restrictor at a first shear rate caused by said pressure differential, said movement of fluid causing said pressure differential to decrease from said first shear rate for generating said plural shear rates;
• and
• (g) detecting the changing weight of said collector over time as said sample of fluid passes through said outlet into said collector.

A method for determining the viscosity of a fluid over plural shear rates caused by a decreasing pressure differential, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a lumen having a first end and a second end and positioned at an angle to a horizontal reference greater than zero degrees, said lumen having a first known dimension;
• (b) coupling an inlet of a flow restrictor, having an outlet, to said second end of said lumen, said flow restrictor having some known dimensions;
• (c) submerging said outlet in a collector containing the fluid;
• (d) disposing said collector on a mass detector;
• (e) coupling a suction source to said first end and activating said source to draw up a sample of the fluid from said collector to form a continuous sample of fluid that occupies said lumen and said flow restrictor, thereby establishing a pressure differential between said first end and said outlet;
• (f) adding additional fluid to said collector to maintain said outlet submerged in the fluid in said collector;
• (g) obtaining an initial weight of said collector by said mass detector;
• (h) exposing said first end to atmospheric pressure to cause said sample of fluid to move through said lumen and said flow restrictor at a first shear rate caused by said pressure differential, said movement of fluid causing said pressure differential to decrease from said first shear rate for generating said plural shear rates;
• (i) detecting the changing weight of said collector over time as said sample of fluid passes through said outlet into said collector while maintaining said outlet being submerged in the fluid in said collector;
• and
• (j) calculating the viscosity of the fluid based on the changing weight of said collector over time, said first known dimension and said some known dimensions.

A method for detecting the changing mass of a fluid moving at plural shear rates caused by a decreasing pressure differential, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a lumen having a first end and a second end and positioned at an angle to a horizontal reference greater than zero degrees;
• (b) coupling an inlet of a flow restrictor, having an outlet, to said second end of said lumen;
• (c) disposing said lumen and said flow restrictor on a mass detector;
• (d) coupling a suction source to said first end and activating said source to draw up a sample of the fluid from said collector to form a continuous sample of fluid that occupies said lumen and said flow restrictor, thereby establishing a pressure differential between said first end and said outlet;
• (e) obtaining an initial weight of said lumen and said flow restrictor by said mass detector;
• (f) exposing said first end to atmospheric pressure to cause said sample of fluid to move through said lumen and said flow restrictor at a first shear rate caused by said pressure differential, said movement of fluid causing said pressure differential to decrease from said first shear rate for generating said plural shear rates;
• and
• (g) detecting the changing weight of said lumen and said flow restrictor over time as said sample of fluid passes through said outlet into said collector.

A method for determining the viscosity of a fluid over plural shear rates caused by a decreasing pressure differential, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a lumen having a first end and a second end and positioned at an angle to a horizontal reference greater than zero degrees, said lumen having a first known dimension;
• (b) coupling an inlet of a flow restrictor, having an outlet, to said second end of said lumen, said flow restrictor having some known dimensions;
• (c) submerging said outlet in a collector filled with a fluid;
• (d) disposing said lumen and said flow restrictor on a mass detector;
• (e) coupling a suction source to said first end and activating said source to draw up a sample of the fluid from said collector to form a continuous sample of fluid that occupies said lumen and said flow restrictor, thereby establishing a pressure differential between said first end and said outlet;
• (f) adding additional fluid to said collector to maintain said outlet submerged in the fluid in said collector;
• (g) obtaining an initial weight of said lumen and said flow restrictor by said mass detector;
• (h) exposing said first end to atmospheric pressure to cause said sample of fluid to move through said lumen and said flow restrictor at a first shear rate caused by said pressure differential, said movement of fluid causing said pressure differential to decrease from said first shear rate for generating said plural shear rates;
• (i) detecting the changing weight of said lumen and said flow restrictor overtime as said sample of fluid passes through said outlet into said collector while maintaining said outlet being submerged in the fluid in said collector;
• and
• (j) calculating the viscosity of the fluid based on the changing weight of said lumen and said flow restrictor over time, said first known dimension and said some known dimensions.

A method for determining the online viscosity of a fluid flowing through a process, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a lumen having a first end and a second end, said first end being coupled to the process through a valve and wherein said lumen is positioned at an angle to a horizontal reference greater than zero degrees, said lumen having a first known dimension;
• (b) coupling an inlet of a flow restrictor, having an outlet, to said second end of said lumen, said flow restrictor having some known dimensions;
• (c) disposing a collector on a mass detector and positioning said outlet to deliver any fluid flowing through said outlet into said collector;
• (d) opening said valve to allow a predetermined amount of fluid from the process to pass through said lumen and said flow restrictor and to collect in said collector to submerge said outlet and to form a continuous sample of fluid occupying said lumen and said flow restrictor, said opening of said valve establishing a pressure differential between said first end and said outlet;
• (e) obtaining an initial weight of said collector by said mass detector;
• (f) further controlling said valve to vent said first end to atmospheric pressure to cause said sample of fluid to move through said lumen and said flow restrictor at a first shear rate caused by said pressure differential, said movement of fluid causing said pressure differential to decrease from said first shear rate for generating said plural shear rates;
• (g) detecting the changing weight of said collector over time as said sample of fluid passes through said outlet into said collector while maintaining said outlet being submerged in the fluid in said collector;
• and
• (h) calculating the online viscosity of the fluid based on the changing weight of said collector over time, said first known dimension and said some known dimensions.

A method for determining the online viscosity of a fluid flowing through a process, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a lumen having a first end and a second end, said first end being coupled to the process through a valve and wherein said lumen is positioned at an angle to a horizontal reference greater than zero degrees, said lumen having a first known dimension;
• (b) coupling an inlet of a flow restrictor, having an outlet, to said second end of said lumen, said flow restrictor having some known dimensions;
• (c) disposing said lumen and said flow restrictor on a mass detector and positioning said outlet to deliver any fluid flowing through said outlet into said collector;
• (d) opening said valve to allow a predetermined amount of fluid from the process to pass through said lumen and said flow restrictor and to collect in said collector to submerge said outlet and to form a continuous sample of fluid occupying said lumen and said flow restrictor, said opening of said valve establishing a pressure differential between said first end and said outlet;
• (e) obtaining an initial weight of said lumen and said flow restrictor by said mass detector;
• (f) further controlling said valve to vent said first end to atmospheric pressure to cause said sample of fluid to move through said lumen and said flow restrictor at a first shear rate caused by said pressure differential, said movement of fluid causing said pressure differential to decrease from said first shear rate for generating said plural shear rates;
• (g) detecting the changing weight of said lumen and said flow restrictor overtime as said sample of fluid passes through said outlet into said collector while maintaining said outlet being submerged in the fluid in said collector;
• and
• (h) calculating the online viscosity of the fluid based on the changing weight of said lumen and said flow restrictor over time, said first known dimension and said some known dimensions.

An apparatus for determining the online homogeneity of a fluid mixture flowing through a process, said apparatus comprising:

• a lumen having a first end and a second end and being positioned at an angle to a horizontal reference greater than zero degrees, said lumen being coupled to the process at said first end;
• a flow restrictor having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being in fluid communication with said second end and wherein said outlet is arranged to deliver any fluid that passes therethrough to a collector;
• said lumen and said flow restrictor being initially occupied by a continuous, non-moving sample of fluid mixture therein that has been diverted from the process;
• a sensor for detecting the changing weight of said lumen and said flow restrictor over time once the sample of fluid mixture begins moving and passes from said outlet into said collector, said sensor generating data relating to the changing weight of said collector over time;
• said first end being exposed to atmospheric pressure creating a pressure differential between said first end and said outlet, said sample of fluid mixture moving through said lumen and said flow restrictor at a first shear rate caused by said pressure differential, said movement of the fluid mixture causing said pressure differential to decrease from said first shear rate for generating plural shear rates;
• and
• a computer for statistically analyzing said data relating to the changing weight to determine if there is good or poor mixing of the fluid mixture.

A method for determining the online homogeneity of a fluid mixture flowing through a process, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a lumen having a first end and a second end and positioned at an angle to a horizontal reference greater than zero degrees, said first end being coupled to said process;
• (b) coupling an inlet of a flow restrictor, having an outlet, to said second end of said lumen;
• (c) disposing said lumen and said flow restrictor on a mass detector and positioning said outlet to deliver any fluid flowing through said outlet into a collector;
• (d) diverting a predetermined amount of said fluid mixture from the process into said lumen and said flow restrictor and to collect in said collector to form a continuous non-moving sample of fluid mixture occupying said lumen and said flow restrictor, said step of diverting establishing a pressure differential between said first end and said outlet;
• (e) obtaining an initial weight of said lumen and said flow restrictor by said mass detector;
• (f) exposing said first end to atmospheric pressure to cause said sample of fluid mixture to move through said lumen and said flow restrictor at a first shear rate caused by said pressure differential, said movement of fluid causing said pressure differential to decrease from said first shear rate for generating plural shear rates;
• (g) detecting the changing weight of said lumen and said flow restrictor over time as said sample of fluid mixture passes through said outlet into said collector to form weight data over time;
• and
• (h) statistically analyzing said weight data to determine if there is good or poor mixing of the fluid mixture.