FACULTY OF CHEMICAL AND ENERGY ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

RESERVOIR ENGINEERING LABORATORY
TITLE OF EXPERIMENT:
MEASUREMENT OF KINEMATIC VISCOSITY (E3)
Name

1)
2)

Email

1)
2)

Matrix No.

1)
2)

Group / Section

Date of Experiment
Date of Submission

GROUP G / SECTION 03

21TH MAC 2016

28TH MAC 2016

Marks obtained (%)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Page

INTRODUCTION
THEORY

2
3-5

EXPERIMENTAL

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

8 - 11

CONCLUSION

12

REFERENCES

13

APPENDICES

14 - 15

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The objective of this experiment is aimed about calculating the kinematic viscosity of three
different liquids that is water, lubricant oil and diesel. The kinematic viscosity is measured by
sinking the viscometer that fills with silicon water bath at 40.5C. Unfortunately, one of the
objective of this experiment was not achieved which is to measure kinematic viscosity under
distinctive bath temperature. The reason why we could not accomplish a result for different
temperature due to machine malfunction. Therefore, we could not further our discussion on the
effect of different temperature on kinematic viscosity.
In determination of liquid density, pycnometer was used to determine the density of each
sample. The sample were used was water, lubricant oil and diesel.

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Kinematic and dynamic viscosity are important fluid properties. These values are close to the
temperature and depending on the chemical property and condition of the thermodynamic fluid.
Effect of the viscosity can be seen clearly in the laminate flow because all of the fluid particles
have the same direction and velocity at all the points. In the evaluation of a reservoir, the
viscosity is an important factor in making the analysis as searching for permeability.
Kinematic viscosity of a liquid is a fluid flow measurement for resistivity under the influence
of gravitational force. Stake of the stress is directly proportional to the density of the fluid to
flow at certain hydrostatic stake. Stake also stress rate directly with density. For any meter
viscosity (viscometer), the time taken by the fluid to flow for a particular volume is directly
proportional to the kinematic viscosity.

2.0 THEORY
DYNAMIC VISCOSITY
A shear stress is produced when the fluid moves and it depends on the viscosity of the fluid.
Shear stress () is the force required to slide one-unit area of a substance over another. The
magnitude of the shearing stress is directly proportional to the change of velocity between
different positions in the fluid.
= (v / y) (Equation 1)
Whereby:

= shear stress

= change in velocity of fluid particle

= distance travelled by the fluid particle

= constant of proportional, called dynamic viscosity.

Unit System
SI system
US system
cgs system

Dynamic Viscosity, (d) Units

N.s/m2, Pa.s or kg/m.s
lb.s/ft2 or slug (ft.s)
Poise = dyne.s/cm2 = g/(cm.s) = 0.1 Pa.s
Centipoises = poise/100 = 0.001 Pa.s = 1.0 mPa.s

KINEMATIC VISCOSITY

Kinematic viscosity is the ratio of the dynamic viscosity to the density of fluid.
k = d / .( Equation 2)
Whereby:
k

= kinematic viscosity

= dynamic viscosity

= density of fluid

Unit System
SI system
US system
cgs system

Kinematic Viscosity, (k) Units

m2/s
ft2/s
Centistokes = stoke/100 = 1 x 10-6 m2/s = 1 mm2/s

MEASUREMENT OF VISCOSITIES
The direct measurement of viscosity is based on the equation,
= R4 tP / 8VL . (Equation 3)
Whereby:
V

= volume of liquid, cc

= flowing time, second

= radius of capillary tube, cm

= length of pipe, cm

= pressure N/cm2

= absolute viscosity, poise

To measure the viscosity we used the same equipment and two types of liquid. Using the
following relationship:
1/2 = (1t1) / (2t2) ..(Equation 4)

Whereby:

= density of liquid, gm/cc

= time taken to flow in the capillary

1,2

= type of liquid used

Otherwise, we measured the kinematic viscosity by measuring the time taken for the liquid to
flow in the capillary at a given temperature.
k = c t

.. (Equation 5)

Where:
c

= viscometer constant, cts/s

= time of flow, s

= kinematic viscosity

3.0 EXPERIMENTAL
As the first step in determining kinematic viscosity, 10 ml of water is poured into the
capillary glass viscometer by using a pipette. After that, we put the capillary glass viscometer
which filled with silicon water bath at 40.5C. The viscometer was left for 10 minutes to ensure
its temperature and the silicon water bath temperature was equilibrium. When the temperature
was equilibrium, the water got sucked by using a vacuum pump in the glass capillary viscometer
until the water level reached at 5mm above the level in the viscometer. The time taken for the
water to flow from high level to the low level of viscometer was taken using a stopwatch. The
experiment was repeated by using lubricant oil as the replacement fluid. The test is repeated if
the flowing time is less than 200s. The viscometer constant was calculated once the kinematic
viscosity of both of the fluids was determined.
For the determination of liquid density, an empty pycnometer was weighted first. Then the
pycnometer was filled with liquid and weighted again. The difference in weight was the weight
of the liquid in the pycnometer. The viscometer constant at each test temperature was measured
by using the volume and density.

4.0 RESULTS

Table 1: Determination of Liquid Density

liquid

Temperatu
re of
Liquid ,
TC
Water
40.5
Lubricant oil
40.5
Diesel
40.5

Weight of
empty
pycnometer
(gm)
26.3520
26.3520
26.3520

Weight of
pycnometer
filled with
liquid (gm)
71.7927
80.3961
75.1125

Volume of
the liquid
(cc )
50
50
50

Density of
the liquid
(gm/cc)
0.9088
1.0809
0.9752

Table 2 : Determination of kinematic viscosity

liquid

Water
Lubricant oil
Diesel

Temperature
of liquid , Tc
40.5
40.5
40.5

Constant no of
glass capillary
0.002
0.250
0.004

Time taken to flow

from top to bottom of
glass capillary, t(s)
429.68
483.09
437.82

Kinematic
viscosity , k
in cts/s
0.86
120.77
1.75

5.0 DISCUSSION
From the definition, viscosity of a fluid is a measure of its resistance to gradual deformation
by shear stress or tensile stress. Viscosity is a property arising from collisions between
neighboring particles in a fluid that are moving at different velocities. When the fluid is forced
through a tube, the particles which comprise the fluid generally move more quickly near the
tube's axis and more slowly near its walls. Therefore, some stress, (such as a pressure difference
between the two ends of the tube), is needed to overcome the friction between particle layers to
keep the fluid moving.
The capillary tube that used to measure water viscosity must be labelled 0.002 as its constant
number so that the time taken of water to flow from top to bottom can be recorded easily or the
bigger capillary tube will show faster time recorded. Meanwhile, the capillary tube used for
lubricant oil must be 0.25 or above and for diesel was 0.004. From the capillary table, the time
taken of water to flow must be between 250 to 1000 seconds to provide normal flow rate while
lubricant oil and diesel must be between 200 to 1000 seconds. Otherwise, it means that the
capillary tube size that used to measure each sample is not accepted. Meanwhile, kinematic
viscosity is the ratio of dynamic viscosity to the density of the fluids used.
Referring to viscosity table, the kinematic viscosity if water at temperature of 40C is in the
range between 0.4 2.0 cst while the value we obtained was 0.86 cst at 40.5C. It shows that our
results from the experiment is quite precise. For the lubricating oil, the kinematic viscosity was
in the range of 50 -200 cst at the temperature of 40C. The value we obtained from the
experiment was 120.77 cst which is quiet precise at 40.5C . The kinematic viscosity we
obtained for diesel was 1.75 cst at 40.5C which is still in the range referring to standard value
which is 8.8 4.0 cst at 40C.

5.1 Discussion Questions

(1) The following is the method on how to derive Poiseuille Equation;

For a laminar flow which is incompressible, steady and uniform, the flow rate through a
pipe can be calculated by integrating the increase in flow rate, Q through a capillary with the
thickness of its radius r ranging from r = 0 to r = R.

U = - ( R2 r2 )/4 d /dx ( p + gh )
Q = 2rr
Q = 2rdr
Q = - / 2 d/dx ( p + gh ) ( R2 r r3 ) dr
Q = - /2 d/dx ( p + gh ) [ R2 r2/2 r4/4 ]

Q = - /8 d/dx ( p + gh ) R4

Q = dpR4/8L

Where dp/L = - d/dx (p + gh ). But Q = V / t,

Hence,

V/t = dpR4/8L

= dp t R4 / 8VL ( shown )

(2) This Poiseuille equation cannot be applied to turbulent flow. This is because the friction
coefficient used is only available for laminar flow whose Reynolds number is lower than
2000.
The Reynolds number for a turbulent flow always larger than 2000 whose friction coefficient
needs to be searched at the moody chart, and this is the reason why it seems not to be applied
to turbulent flow. The assumptions of the equation are that the fluid is incompressible and
Newtonian .The flow is laminar through a pipe of constant circular cross-section that is
substantially longer than its diameter and there is no acceleration of fluid in the pipe

(3) Dimension of unit poise in cgs system:

1 poise = 1 dyne.s/cm2
= 1 g/cm.s

Dimension for gram

=M

Dimension for centimeter

=L

Dimension for second

=T

So, dimension will be ML-1T-1

(4) We cannot use a high velocity is because in this experiment we are using Poiseuille
Equation.
The higher the velocity of the liquid, then the flow will become the turbulent flow. So, the
equation does not flow. It is our responsibility to control the velocity of the fluid.

(5) Kinematic viscosity is not affected by the temperature since same temperature of silicon oil
bath is used. Referring to graph 1, the graph shows straight line.

Graph of Kinematic viscosity against Temperatures

140
120
100
80

Kinematic viscosity,k (cts/s)

60
40
20
0
35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85

Temperature,T (C)

Graph 1 : Kinematic viscosities against Temperatures

6.0 CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, the viscosity constants for glass capillary for water, lubricant oil and diesel
obtained in this experiment was 0.86 cst, 120.77 cst, and 1.75 cst respectively at 40.5C. As we
compared the results obtained with the capillary table which were provided in the laboratory, the
value of the time taken for both sample must be in the range in order to make sure that the flow
rate is in normal condition. In addition, the range of the time taken for the samples are different
for water, lubricating oil and diesel. With the precautions and steps to minimize the errors, the
experimental results are valid and accepted.

7.0 REFERENCES
1. Amyx, J.W, Bass, D.M and Robert L. Whiting (1960). Petroleum Resevoir
2. Engineering-Physical Properties. McGraw hill Book Company: New York, USA.
3. Burcik, E.J (1956). Properties of Petroleum Reservoir Fluids. International Human Resources
Development Corporation: Massachusetts, USA.

8.0 APPENDICES

(A) Determination of Liquid Density

(a) Water

Weight of pycnometer (gm)

= 26.3520 gm

Weight of pycnometer fill with the liquid (gm)

= 71.7927 gm

Difference in weight of liquid (gm)

= (71.7927 26.3520) gm
= 45.4407 gm

Density of the liquid (gm/cc) =

Differenceweight of liquid (gm)

Volume (cc)
45.4407 gm
50 cc

= 0.9088 gm/cc

*Similar step used to calculate the parameter for lubricant oil and diesel*

(B) Determination of Kinematic Viscosity

(a) Water

Constant no. of glass capillary

= 0.002

Time taken to flow from top to bottom of glass capillary, t (s)

= 429.68 s

Kinematic viscosity, k (cts/s)

= 0.002 429.68
= 0.86 cst

*Similar step used to calculate the parameter for lubricant oil and diesel*