Intrinsically safe viscometer for lab-scale reaction vessels

Viscosity specialist Hydramotion Ltd (UK) 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.

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.

Ideal for monitoring oil viscosity in the lab, the ReactaVisc 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 ReactaVisc has a compact enclosure which takes up minimal space at the top of the vessel, leaving plenty of room for ancillary equipment such as stirrers. The sensor is a solid probe with no moving parts, bearings or seals that could wear out or fail in service, so routine maintenance is not required.

Viscosity is measured every two seconds and displayed on the separate VP550 signal processor unit included in the system. Output includes a 4 - 20 mA analogue viscosity signal and an RS485 serial data link. The optional ViscoLink software package enables measurement data to be logged and transferred to a PC for analysis.

The ReactaVisc 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. No recalibration is needed when the viscometer is transferred from one vessel to another, since calibration is unaffected by the volume of fluid or the dimensions of the container.

Shipped ready for immediate use, the ReactaVisc can be in place and working within minutes of being unpacked.