Powder Technology, Vol.105, No.1-3, 418-423, 1999
An on-line pressure vessel rheometer for slurries
An on-line rheometer, suitable for use with slurries, has been developed at Michigan Technological University. This rheometer can be used with both Newtonian and non-Newtonian slurries, and produces complete shear rate/shear stress curves which characterize the time-independent rheology of the slurry. The sensor utilizes the Hagen-Poiseuille equation and Boyle's law to calculate the shear rate, slurry flow rate, and shear stress from a series of pressure measurements. The design of the unit allows the measurement sample to be continuously collected from operating process streams in the often-hostile on-line environment. The shear rate/shear stress curves can be used to conveniently calculate the apparent viscosity at any given shear rate, and also to measure any yield stress or other deviations from Newtonian behavior.
Keywords:HYDROCYCLONE