Patent ID: 8079250
Filing Date: 2011-12-20
Classification: G01F,G01N

Abstract:
1. A system for determining the viscosity of a fluid, the system comprising: a flow cell having an inlet and an outlet, and a calibrated constriction defined by a constant value K; an imaging system coupled to said flow cell to identify particles flowing therethrough; a first pressure transducer fluidly coupled to the inlet of said flow cell inlet, said inlet pressure transducer receiving a flow of fluid; a second pressure transducer fluidly coupled to said flow outlet; and a controller adapted to be coupled to said first and second pressure transducers, and to said imaging system, wherein said controller is configured to receive and compare particle images from the imaging system to determine a distance moved by each imaged particle during a predetermined period of time and determine a flow rate of the fluid based on an average of distance values and said predetermined period of time, and wherein said controller determines the viscosity of the fluid based on the constant value K associated with the flow cell, said flow rate and said change in pressure in the fluid at said first and second pressure transducers.