10 Analytical Instrumentation Cost-Effective and Accurate Viscosity Measurements


RheoSense Inc (USA) announces the m-Vroc. This analytical system for viscosity measurements has many advantages over conventional rotational and cone-and-plate viscometers, including accuracy, repeatability and on-going cost effectiveness. Continuing to support market and scientific demands, RheoSense releases its new viscometer, m-Vroc 2.5, enhanced for ease of use, greater accuracy and reproducible results.


The m-Vroc 2.5 is a complete measurement system, equipped with automatic chip recognition and closed-loop temperature control. For more control of the test environment, an optional air purge unit and a Peltier chiller can be added to the system. The mechanical and electronic interfaces have been enhanced, making it even easier to capture, view and record viscosity measurements.


This compact system is as portable as shown in the photo, easily transported from a laboratory to a production line for important, critical measurements. Cost-effective, the m-Vroc provides accuracy with small sample volumes: 50 microliter, a significant factor when evaluating costly protein and other biological formulations.


With its wide measurement range (0.1 to 100k cP viscosity) and high shear rates, the m-Vroc is capable of analysing virtually any liquid viscosity value, Newtonian and non-Newtonian Thermal characteristics are an important aspect of viscosity measurements—a change in temperature can affect viscosity, the accuracy and reliability of measurement results. An optional circulating water bath, a Peltier chiller, can be added for greater temperature control. With this addition, the closed-loop temperature control system is fast and stable, operating at a range of 4ºC to 69ºC with the accuracy of +/- 0.05ºC.


The core of the system is Vroc, the proprietary MEMS chip developed by RheoSense, Inc. To provide accurate measurement for a variety of liquid products, RheoSense supports that need with a selection of Vroc chips. To help ensure the system is set up for optimum measurement, m-Vroc 2.5 is equipped with automatic chip recognition.


A Vroc chip measures the viscosity of a liquid flowing through a fully contained microfluidic cell. This full containment eliminates air interface, a common problem with conventional cone and plate or plate and plate rheometers for protein solutions, surface active materials, and volatile liquids. For more control of the test environment, an optional purge air supply can be connected to the system, which prevents condensation inside the chamber. This feature can be especially important when operating at low temperatures.


Reader Reply Card No 28 New Portable Flash Point Tester Launched


Grabner Instruments (Austria) launches Miniflash Touch, its new analyser for easy and safe flash point testing of petroleum products and solvents. Miniflash Touch is the latest addition to the Grabner Instruments line of portable flashpoint testers, that combines all of the field-proven advantages of the Miniflash tester line with a new convenient touch-screen design. The touch-screen runs on a Microsoft® features for standard and advanced users.


Windows® platform, the analyser offers full compatibility with network, PC and LIMS, user access control, new flashpoint methods and unique


Miniflash flash point testers work according to ASTM D6450 and D7094, which give results equivalent to the Pensky Martens ASTM D93*) / EN ISO 2719 and Abel and Tag closed cup methods. The new Miniflash Touch analyser features new methods for simulation of EN ISO 3679 and EN ISO 3680 for testing hazardous goods according to transport regulations. Miniflash


Touch facilitates controlling of the parameters heat rate, ignition energy and amount of atmospheric oxygen present in the combustion chamber, through which users can simulate almost any flashpoint method within varying environmental conditions. The new model allows testing at an extended temperature range from 0-400°C and facilitates cleaning by introducing a new automatic ignition cleaning method. Miniflash Touch’s large colour touch-screen runs in a Microsoft®


Windows® environment.


This enables easy networking and data transfer, allows seamless LIMS integration via LAN and full remote operation of the analyser. Further highlights of the flash point tester are USB data transfer and printer support, intuitive menu navigation and a vast method and data storage. The unique flash point combustion graphics give users the opportunity to follow every millisecond of the flash combustion in unprecedented detail.


Grabner Instruments portable Miniflash testers are known for maximum safety, accuracy, speed and ease of use in testing flashpoints of liquids and solids. The extremely versatile analysers are worldwide standard testers for the petrochemical and flavors and fragrances industry, are widely used for testing compliance with transport regulations and are approved testers for NATO and NAVY for military use. All Miniflash analysers house the safety standard: The Grabner Instruments flash detection method, measuring the instantaneous pressure increase of only 1-2 ml sample inside a continuously closed chamber at flashpoint temperature, eliminating the need of testing with an open flame. The fast thermoelectric cooling after the test saves expensive labor time and is optimised to guarantee best life time of temperature control. Miniflash models are available for single tests or with an 8-position autosampler for continuous flashpoint testing.


Reader Reply Card No 29 H2S-Friendly High Pressure High Temperature Viscometers


As demand for oil increases and fuel prices continue to climb, oil exploration continues in increasingly difficult environments. The safety and economic success of these efforts require accurate information about the oil fields’ reservoir fluids. Supporting this, Cambridge Viscosity (USA) has enhanced its industry-standard high pressure, high temperature viscometers for analysis of reservoir fluids that contain hydrogen sulphide and other corrosive materials.


With prominent oil commodity experts forecasting oil prices reaching over $150 per barrel by 2012, drilling activities are increasing worldwide. Cambridge Viscosity reports that orders for its high pressure viscometers have risen sharply this year. Cambridge’s first customer for corrosive resistant viscometers is one of the largest oil services companies in the world, who is upgrading its laboratory equipment worldwide.


“Each oil field reservoir fluid has its own characteristics. The amount of sour gas and brine are two factors, but there are many more. Our new corrosive-resistant development primarily involved changing materials in our viscometers. It represents the latest in a continuing series of enhancements Cambridge has developed for the industry. Other step-changers include low-torque sealing, a flow-through manifold for core analysis, as well as an adaption to enable measure despite off-gassing. In addition, Cambridge has developed game-changers in ultra high temperature (300o explains Cambridge Viscosity President Robert Kasameyer.


C) and ultra high pressure (43,000psi) viscometers,” Reader Reply Card No 30 Miniature Diaphragm Pumps with Durability


Gardner Denver Thomas (Germany) has once again expanded the successful product platforms of the Jade miniature diaphragm pumps. The model series Jade 1410 and 1420 are now equipped with electronically commutated motors (BLDC). This provides unique advantages for the user.


The high torque and wide speed control range of the motors makes it possible to infinitely adjust the pneumatic output of the diaphragm pumps. Accordingly, the free volume flow of the Model 1410 can be infinitely adjusted from < 1.0 to 5.5 l/min, the twin version 1420 from < 2.0 to 11.0 l/min.


The motors are equipped with integrated control electronics and are supplied with DC voltage (12 or 24V) by means of a 4-core cable incl. plug. The motor speed and thus the pneumatic output of the pump are changed by means of the set point input. This is performed either analog from 0 to 5 VDC or by means of pulse width modulation (also PWM signal). When the pressure increases, the speed is adjusted, which gives the pump a very stiff characteristic curve. In addition, a signal which stands for the current motor speed can be used.


The completely maintenance-free pump is practically wear-free due to the electronic commutation and has a useful life of up to 20000 hours in normal operation. The ultra-light, compact, and closed construction is ideally suited for installation in various devices in medical and analytical systems, laboratory applications, or general mechanical engineering.


The pumps are also already being used in fuel cells due to the fact that they have the best efficiency rating in this performance class. The entire Jade product platform has a modular design and offers users a wide variety of applications due to the availability of different membrane technologies, motors and head configurations. Datasheets for the pumps are available on the Internet.


Reader Reply Card No 32 February / March 2011 • www.petro-online.com Reader Reply Card No 31


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