An Investigation Into The Effects Of Heat Loss In A Falling Sphere Viscometer When Testing The Changes In Viscosity Of Sugar Solution

This paper reviews the reliability of a falling ball viscometer experiment that is adapted by replacing the water jacket with a heated water source and conventional thermometer with a data logger and probe. Results are compared between data loggers, changes in the room temperature and results are also validated using finite element analysis (FEA). The study is constrained to 40% sugar solution for this paper. The study shows interesting results in using data loggers for the consistency and accuracy of measuring viscosity of sugar solution. The experiment is of particular interest for obtaining rapid results over wide temperature ranges for determining the viscosities of fluids in manufacturing processes, e.g. polymeric materials or lubricants.