Monitoring and analyzing waste glass compositions

Apparatus for determining the viscosity of a first fluid, said first fluid having a temperature, said apparatus comprising:

• a container having a first fluid therein;
• means for generating bubbles of a second fluid and releasing said bubbles into said first fluid;
• a first pair of electrodes in said first fluid, said first pair of electrodes spaced apart and positioned at a first two points, said first electrode pair measuring electrical conductivity of said first fluid between said first two points, said first two points located above said generating means so that when said generating means generates and releases a bubble, said bubble travels between said first two points thereby causing a first change in electrical conductivity of said first fluid between said first two points, said first measuring means producing a first output responsive to said first change;
• and
• a second pair of electrodes in said first fluid, said second pair of electrodes spaced apart and positioned at a second two points, said second electrode pair measuring electrical conductivity of said first fluid between said second two points, said second two points located above said generating means so that when said generating means generates and releases a bubble, said bubble travels between said second two points thereby causing a second change in electrical conductivity of said second fluid between said second two points, said second measuring means producing a second output responsive to said second change, said second pair of electrodes spaced apart from said first pair of electrodes by a distance so that the time between said first change and said second change can be used to calculate viscosity of said first fluid.

A method for determining the viscosity of a fluid, said fluid having a temperature, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a container having a fluid therein;
• generating a bubble, said bubble rising through said fluid;
• measuring by a first pair of electrodes the conductivity of said fluid lying therebetween, said first electrode pair spaced apart so that said bubble passes between said first pair of electrodes whereby the conductivity of said fluid between said second pair of electrodes changes a first time;
• measuring by a second pair of electrodes the conductivity of said fluid lying therebetween, said second electrode pair spaced apart so that said bubble passes between said second pair of electrodes whereby the conductivity of said fluid between said second pair of electrodes changes a second time, said first and second pairs of electrodes being separated by a distance;
• measuring a time interval between said first time and said second time so that a velocity of said bubble rising said distance can be calculated;
• and
• calculating said viscosity of said fluid from said velocity and said temperature of said fluid.