Oil Viscosity Testing

Viscosity Experiment Apparatus:

• Brookfield Viscometer: Model LVTD, Serial A01329: The viscometer rotates a spindle in a fluid and measures the torque necessary to overcome the associated viscous resistance to the spindle movement.

• LV Spindle #1: Spindle #1 has the largest surface area of all the spindles in the set, allowing the significant figures of the results to be maximized

• Brookfield Factor Finder: The factor finder allows the user to select the specific viscometer model, the spindle number, and the RPM. The result is the factor, which is used to convert the viscometer dial reading to centipoises (mPa*s)

Dial reading * Factor = Viscosity in centipoises (mPa*s)

• 250 ml Beaker: Used to hold the testing fuel, the size enables the entire spindle to be submerged in the fuel

• VWR Scientific Products 400 Hotplate: Digitally controlled hot plate used to deliver heat to the fuel

• Polder Digital Thermometer: Used to measure the temperature of the fuel.

• 300 ml of Jatropha SVO: testing fuel

• 300ml of Canola SVO: testing fuel

Viscosity Experiment Procedure:

1. Fill the 250 ml beaker with the room temperature fuel which is being tested.

2. Place the beaker of fuel on the room temperature hotplate.

3. Attach LV spindle #1 to the viscometer, submerge the spindle in the testing fuel completely.

4. Adjust the speed of the viscometer to 60 RPMs.

5. Submerge the digital thermometer in the center of the fuel beaker roughly one centimeter from the spindle; be sure the thermometer is not in contact with the spindle.

6. Begin taking viscosity measurements as the temperature of the hotplate is increased. Convert the dial reading of the viscometer by multiplying by the factor to calculate the viscosity in centipoises (mPa*s). Plot results accordingly.

7. Carry out procedure for both Jatropha SVO and Canola SVO.

Testing Setup: 100% Canola Oil     Testing Setup: 100% Jatropha