Aspen Electronics has introduced a solid state viscometer that is suitable for a wide range of industrial, environmental and process control applications. Manufactured in the US to world-class semiconductor specifications, by the SenGenuity division of Vectron International, the ViSmart is a low shear, threaded bolt viscosity sensor.
This innovative viscometer is based on acoustic wave technology, using a quartz crystal wave resonator which is in contact with the liquid. Acoustic viscosity is calculated using power loss from the quartz resonator into the fluid. The sensor features a wide dynamic range (air to several thousand cP), offers a wide acoustic viscosity measurement range (0 to 400) and requires only 100 micro-litres of fluid to take a measurement.
Providing instantaneous and continuous real-time in-process relative viscosity measurement, the sensor can be easily integrated into other instrumentation platforms, via the standard USB interface or RS232 / 4-20mA interfaces by using the optional VisConnect analogue/digital communication module.
Unaffected by shock, orientation, flow or vibration conditions, ViSmart is hermetically sealed and completely immersible. It has an operating temperature range of -25 to 125ºC. No calibration is required.
Aspen foresees a wide range of applications for the ViSmart viscometer, in both portable and fixed instrumentation and machinery markets. For example, it can be used in process monitoring and control equipment in the food, pharmaceutical, chemical, paint, printing and cosmetics industries. It will prove useful for oil condition based monitoring needs in large engines and gearboxes such as those found in large diesel generators in the marine, heavy plant and ground transportation sectors, as well as in wind turbine gearboxes and machine tools. Other areas of application include oil industry research and the development and production of oils.