Method and apparatus for determining surface tension or if a surfactant will keep a narrow passageway open
A method for determining surface tension or if a surface will keep a narrow passageway open. It comprises: providing elongated passageway defining means, the passageway having first and second end portions and an intermediate necked-down portion including a relatively narrow center a tapered first and second sections to either side of the relatively narrow center, the first and second tapered sections being adjacent to the first and second end portions, respectively, and one of the first and second end portions being open to atmosphere, and the other end portion not being open to atmosphere; installing a small quantity of the fluid whose surface tension is to be determined within the necked-down portion to form a column fluid; treating and progressively increasing a pressure different between the gases in the first and second end portions by either slowly introducing additional gas under pressure into the other end portion or by slowly withdrawing gas from the other end portion to cause the column of fluid to be slowly forced along the necked-down portion until the first meniscus passes the relatively narrow center. The first meniscus rupturing after it passes the relatively narrow center to open up the column of fluid to permit the gas pressure within the first and second end portions to substantially instantaneously equalize; continuing to either slowly introduced additional gas under pressure into the other end portion or to slowly withdraw gas from the other end portion for a significant period of time after the first meniscus ruptures; and recording the pressure within the other end portion.
- Assignee:
- NOV; NOV-91-014068; EDB-91-109987
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4970892; A
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-437060
- OSTI ID:
- 5483482
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 15 Nov 1989
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
FLOWMETERS
SURFACTANTS
METERING
FLUID FLOW
GAS FLOW
HYDRAULICS
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
SURFACE TENSION
FLUID MECHANICS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MECHANICS
METERS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
420400* - Engineering- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
440800 - Miscellaneous Instrumentation- (1990-)