Carla Padrel de Oliveira

The viscosity of five liquid hydrocarbons at pressures up to 250 MPa

This paper reports new measurements of the viscosity of toluene, n-pentane, n-hexane, n-octane, and n-decane at pressures up to 250 MPa in the temperature range 303 to 348 K. The measurements were performed with a vibrating-wire viscometer and with a relative method of evaluation. Calibration of the instrument was carried out with respect to reference values of the viscosity of the same liquids at their saturation vapour pressure. The viscosity measurements have a precision of ±0.1% but the accuracy is limited by that of the calibration data to be ±0.5%. The experimental data have been represented by polynomial functions of pressure for the purposes of interpolation. The data are also used as the most precise test yet applied to a representation of the viscosity of liquids based upon hard-sphere theory.

Vibrating-wire viscometers for liquids at high pressures

The design and operation of two independent vibrating-wire viscometers are described. The instruments are intended for operation in the liquid phase at pressures up to 300 MPa and have been designed specifically for this purpose using the detailed theory of the device. Extensive evidence is adduced to demonstrate that the operation of the viscometers is consistent with the theory. Although the instruments attain a precision in viscosity measurements of ±0.1%, when used in an absolute mode the accuracy that can be achieved is no better than ±3%. However, if the instrument is calibrated for two welldefined instrumental parameters, the uncertainty in the reported viscosity is improved to +0.5%. The results of measurements of the viscosity of normal heptane in the temperature range 303 to 348 K at pressures up to 250 MPa made with one of the viscometers are reported. The results are shown to be totally consistent with measurements reported earlier using the instrument designed for lower pressures.

The viscosity of liquid R134a

The paper reports new measurements of the viscosity of liquid R134a over the temperature range 235 to 343 K and pressures up to 50 MPa. The measurements have been carried out in a vibrating-wire viscometer calibrated with respect to the viscosity of several liquid hydrocarbons. It is estimated that the uncertainty in the viscosity data reported is ±0.6%. The data therefore have a lower uncertainty than that of earlier measurements of the viscosity of this environmentally acceptable regrigerant. The viscosity data have been represented as a function of density by means of a formulation based upon the rigid, hard-sphere theory of dense fluids with a maximum deviation of ±0.3%. This representation allows the present body of experimental data to be extended to regions of thermodynamic state not covered by the measurements.

The viscosity of R32 and R125 at saturation

This paper reports new measurements of the viscosity of R32 and R125, in both the liquid and the vapor phase, over the temperature range 220 to 343 K near the saturation line. The measurements in both liquid and vapor phases have been carried out with a vibrating-wire viscometer calibrated with respect to standard reference values of viscosity. It is estimated that the uncertainty of the present viscosity data is one of 0.5–1%, being limited partly by the accuracy of the available density data. The experimental data have been represented by polynomial functions of temperature for the purposes of interpolation.