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Intrinsically Safe Lab-Scale Viscometer Now Available

Viscosity specialist Hydramotion Ltd is pleased to announce that its ReactaVisc RV3 research-grade viscometers are now available in intrinsically safe versions certified for use in Hazardous Areas up to and including Zone 0.

by Other Author

York, England. — 28 September 2012. — Viscosity specialist Hydramotion Ltd is pleased to announce that its ReactaVisc RV3 research-grade viscometers are now available in intrinsically safe versions certified for use in Hazardous Areas up to and including Zone 0 (explosive atmosphere continuously present), equivalent to Class 1 Division 1 Group A.

Designed primarily for use in reaction vessels of virtually any capacity, the ReactaVisc has a compact enclosure which leaves plenty of room for connections to other apparatus or ancillary equipment, e.g. for stirring or reagent addition. The instrument incorporates an integral thermometer, enabling simultaneous temperature monitoring and referenced viscosity calculation without the need for a separate probe.

Both the standard and the high-temperature models are now available as intrinsically safe versions with ATEX / IEC certification to Ga Ex ia IIC T4 - T6, allowing the transducers to be operated even in the most hazardous environments. This means that the benefits of continuous, real-time viscosity measurement can now be exploited in almost any laboratory or pilot-scale application.

Viscosity is measured every two seconds and displayed on the separate VP550L signal processor unit. Outputs include a 4 - 20 mA analogue viscosity signal and a USB port. The optional ViscoLink software package enables measurement data to be logged and transferred to a PC for analysis. The ReactaVisc viscometer is ideal for monitoring changes in viscosity during the course of a reaction, for example in polymer synthesis. As such, it can be used either as a research tool or applied to a small-scale production facility.

The sensor is an all-welded construction with no moving parts, bearings or seals that could wear out or fail in service, so routine maintenance is not required. The standard sensor uses 316 stainless steel, but other materials such as special alloys can be used if necessary.

The high-temperature RV3-HT1 model can be used at temperatures up to 250 °C without requiring any special cooling. Efficient design ensures that sensitive components in the head enclosure are protected from overheating, even though the sensor probe itself is at full fluid temperature. The advantage is that there is no risk of measurement errors resulting from the viscosity changes that would be caused by localised cooling of the fluid around the sensor.

The instrument is supplied with a fitting consisting of a compression nut plus an adaptor made to suit the desired installation. The shaft is passed through the adaptor and the compression nut is hand-tightened at the required position, forming an effective seal. The immersion depth is adjusted simply by loosening the fitting, moving as required, and re-tightening. The whole operation can be completed in seconds. This versatile feature enables the immersion depth of the sensor can be adjusted at will, making it easy to use the viscometer in differing volumes of fluid or in vessels of varying capacity.

Factory-calibrated using certified viscosity standards traceable to NIST, the ReactaVisc requires no recalibration, even when it is transferred from one vessel to another. Calibration is unaffected by the volume of fluid or the dimensions of the container.

Moreover, it is not necessary that the unit be mounted vertically, as the sensor will work perfectly in any orientation. Shipped ready for immediate use, the ReactaVisc can be in place and working within minutes of being unpacked.