CL 251: Chemical Engineering Lab I

Experiment-11
Viscosity by Efflux Time

Sagar Chawla
12110081

Abstract:-
The purpose of this experiment to determine average value of viscosity of ethylene glycol
and water mixture. This was done by measuring efflux time for tank by using capillary
tubes of different length and diameter. The average value of viscosity came out 12.75.
This is different from actual value. The possible reason of this difference is that accuracy
of apparatus was not high and some human error.
Introduction:-
Viscosity is a measure of resistance to flow of fluid at a specified temperature. Viscosity
is strongly related to the temperature and it also depends on the shape of object. Viscosity
occurs due to friction between the adjacent layers of the fluid that are moving at different
velocity.
Viscosity of mixture can be determined by capillary tube viscometer. Capillary tube
viscometer is quite simple and accurate instrument for measurement of viscosity. The
liquid filled in the upper wide reservoir is lead to the entrance of the capillary tube
sufficiently small diameter. The hydrostatic head of the liquid above the exit of the
capillary is sufficiently in case of thin liquid to overcome the frictional resistance of
capillary tube and hence to maintain sufficient flow rate of the liquid. But in case of
liquid with high viscosity, we have to apply external pressure to get desire flow rate.
Time required to cross desire interval is called efflux time.
If flow through capillary is assumed to be laminar then head loss is given by Hagen-
Poisuellis equation.

( )


After writing mass balance equation and some manipulation, we get

Procedure:-
A capillary of a particular length and diameter was selected and then it was attached to
the bottom outlet of the test tank with the given threaded plug. The tank was filled with
the test liquid (the mixture of ethylene glycol and water). Keeping the tip of capillary
tube closed using finger while filling the tank. Mixture was allowed to flow through the
capillary by release the figure on the tip. Time is noted down for travelling each interval
by stopwatch. The same procedure was repeated for other three capillaries of different
length and diameters.


Result:-
1. Capillary tube 1=ET-1
Density of solution =1.76g/cm
3

Length of tube=15.2cm
Diameter of tube =0.3519cm
Table 1:- Data of ET-1
Sr. No. Initial height
(cm)
Final height
(cm)
T
eff
(sec) (centipoises)
1 20 18 30.65 14.4
2 17 15 33.04 13.1
3 14.5 12.5 39.08 13.0
4 11 9 53.55 13.2

2. Capillary tube 2= ET-4
Length of capillary tube=19.9 cm
Diameter of capillary tube= 0.2709cm
Table 2:-Data of ET-4
Sr. No. Initial height
(cm)
Final height
(cm)
T
eff
(sec) (centipoises)
1 23.5 21.5 78.96 11.8
2 20.5 18.5 95.17 12.3
3 18.5 16.5 104.8 12.1
4 16.5 14.5 111.54 11.4


3. Capillary tube 3= ET-6

Length of capillary tube=22.8cm
Diameter of capillary tube= 0.3197cm
Table 3:-Data of ET-6
Sr. No. Initial height
(cm)
Final height
(cm)
T
eff
(sec) (centipoises)
1 23.5 21.5 49.24 12.4
2 20.5 18.5 57.62 12.6
3 17.5 15.5 69.50 12.9
4 15.3 13.3 77.93 12.5




4. Capillary tube 4= ET-7

Length of capillary tube L=22.8 cm
Diameter of capillary tube D= 0.3604 cm
Table 4:-Data of ET-7
Sr. No. Initial height
(cm)
Final height
(cm)
T
eff
(sec) (centipoises)
1 22 21 16.05 12.5
2 20 18 39.30 13.5
3 18 16 43.72 13.4
4 15 13 51.46 13.0

Discussion & Conclusion:-
The average value of viscosity of the mixture is 12.75. The value of viscosity also varies,
as we vary the length and diameter of the capillary tube that shows inaccuracy of
apparatus. If diameter of capillary tube is increased the efflux time of tank is increased
since efflux is inversely proportional to D
4
. Efflux time is directly proportional to the
viscosity. Ethylene glycol is used as a raw material in the manufacture of polyester fibers
and fabric industry. Viscosity is an important parameter in oil lubricant system. Viscosity
of oil also plays a major role in moving parts of the vehicle.
Appendix:-
Sample calculation

()

= 14.4 centipoise

References:-
1. http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Viscosity.pdf
2. Lab manual