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Title: Sensor for viscosity and shear strength measurement

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/666055· OSTI ID:666055

Measurement of the physical properties (viscosity and density) of waste slurries is critical in evaluating transport parameters to ensure turbulent flow through transport pipes. The environment for measurement and sensor exposure is extremely harsh; therefore, reliability and ruggedness are critical in the sensor design. Two different viscometer techniques are being investigated in this study, based on: magnetostrictive pulse generated acoustic waves; and an oscillating cylinder. Prototype sensors have been built and tested which are based on both techniques. A base capability instrumentation system has been designed, constructed, and tested which incorporates both of these sensors. It requires manual data acquisition and off-line calculation. A broad range of viscous media has been tested using this system. Extensive test results appear in this report. The concept for each technique has been validated by these test results. This base capability system will need to be refined further before it is appropriate for field tests. The mass of the oscillating system structure will need to be reduced. A robust acoustic probe assembly will need to be developed. In addition, in March 1997 it was made known for the first time that the requirement was for a deliverable automated viscosity instrumentation system. Since then such a system has been designed, and the hardware has been constructed so that the automated concept can be proved. The rest of the hardware, which interfaced to a computer, has also been constructed and tested as far as possible. However, for both techniques the computer software for automated data acquisition, calculation, and logging had not been completed before funding and time ran out.

Research Organization:
Florida International Univ. (FIU), Miami, FL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (United States); USDOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG21-95EW55094
OSTI ID:
666055
Report Number(s):
DOE/EW/55094-29; ON: DE98059427; TRN: AHC29819%%210
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Jan 1998
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English