Measurement Capabilities of the Experimental Properties of Fluids Group

This overview of the available instruments in the Experimental Properties of Fluids Group has two parts:

Existing Instruments
Instruments Under Development

In most cases further details about the instrument are available by clicking on the instrument title.

Existing Instruments

VLE (Vapor-Liquid Equilibria) / Interfacial Tension Instrument

coexisting liquid and vapor pressure, density, and mixture surface tension of coexisting liquid and vapor
temperature range from 213 to 423 K; pressures to 17 MPa
uncertainties of ± 0.02 K, ± 0.1 % in pressure, ± 0.5 kg/m³ , ± 0.005 in mole fraction, and ± 0.2 mN in surface tension

Small-Volume, Dual-Cell Dew-Bubble Point Instrument

isochoric/variable temperature or isothermal/variable volume measurements possible
temperature range 223 to 423 K with pressures up to 20 MPa
uncertainty ±0.02 K in temperature, ±0.05% in pressure, ±5 kPa in saturation pressure detection, ±0.0005 mole fraction in composition

Isochoric (Constant Volume) Pressure-Volume-Temperature (p-V-T) Instruments

liquid, supercritical, and dense vapor states; also used for vapor pressure determination
temperature range from 80 to 400 K; pressures to 35 MPa
uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.01 to 0.05 % in pressure, and ± 0.05 % in density

Dual-Sinker Densimeter

for pressure-density-temperature (p-r-T) determinations of liquid, supercritical, and dense vapor states; also used for vapor pressure measurements
temperature range from 100 to 500 K; pressures to 40 MPa
uncertainties of ± 0.005 K, ± 0.02 % in pressure, and ± 0.01 to 0.05 % in density

Isochoric (C_v) Calorimeter

liquid, supercritical, and dense vapor states; also used for triple point determinations
temperature range from 30 to 345 K; pressures to 35 MPa
uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.05 % in pressure, ± 0.15 % in density, and ± 0.5 % in C_v

High-Temperature Adiabatic (C_v) Twin Calorimeter

liquid, supercritical, and dense vapor states
temperature range from 250 to 500 K; pressures to 20 MPa
uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.05 % in pressure, ± 0.1 % in density, and ± 0.4 % in C_v

Spherical Acoustic Resonator for Speed of Sound Measurements

vapor states; also used for determination of ideal-gas heat capacity (C_p⁰)
temperature range from 250 to 350 K; pressures to 7 MPa
uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.01 to 0.05% in pressure, ± 0.05 % in sound speed, and ± 0.5 % in C_p⁰

Hot-Wire Thermal Conductivity Instruments (2 separate instruments)

liquid, supercritical, and vapor states
wire diameters from 4 µm (gases) to 25 µm (liquids)
wires are made of platinum, tungsten, or tantalum
Tungsten and tantalum wires can be anodized for measurements in electrically conducting and corrosive liquids
transient and steady-state measurements
low-temperature instrument:
temperature range from 30 to 330 K; pressures to 70 MPa
high-temperature instrument:
temperature range from 223 to 700 K; pressures to 70 MPa
uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.05 % in pressure, and ± 1 % in thermal conductivity

Low-Angle Dynamic Light Scattering Instrument

thermal diffusivity measurements of liquids and near-critical fluid states
heterodyne and homodyne capability
temperature range from 80 to 550 K; pressures to 70 MPa
uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.05 % in pressure, and ± 2 % in thermal diffusivity

Viscometry of Newtonian Fluids

Torsionally Vibrating Quartz-Crystal Viscometers (2 separate instruments)

liquid, supercritical, and vapor states
viscosity range 0.01 mPa·s to 1000 mPa·s, expandable
semi-automated operation for unattended measurements of entire isotherms

low-temperature instrument:

temperature range from 30 to 340 K; pressures to 35 MPa
crystal diameter 5 mm, crystal length 50 mm, unswept quartz
measurement in time and in frequency domain (free decay and resonance)

high-temperature instrument:

temperature range from 300 to 420 K; pressures to 70 MPa
crystal diameter 3 mm, crystal length 50 mm, unswept quartz
use of swept quartz to extend temperature range up to 640 K in preparation
resonance measurement
uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.05 % in pressure, and ± 2 % in viscosity

Open Gravitational Capillary Viscometers

Ubbelohde viscometers, ISO/DIS 3105, ASTM D 2515
non-volatile liquids at atmospheric pressure
kinematic viscosity range 0.3 mm²·s^-1 to 300 mm²·s^-1
uncertainties of ± 0.02 K, and ± 0.2 % in viscosity

Sealed Gravitational Capillary Viscometers

saturated liquid states
volatile liquids
compatible with corrosive liquids
Small sample volume of approx. 3 cm³
viscosity range 0.05 mPa·s to 2 mPa·s. Variable with capillary size
temperature range from 240 to 350 K; pressures to 3 MPa vapor pressure
two instruments with straight vertical and coiled capillary. Internal diameters of 0.508 mm and 0.236 mm. Other capillary sizes available.
uncertainties of ± 0.02 K, and ± 2 to 3 % in viscosity

Rheometry of Non-Newtonian Fluids

for viscosities from 1 mPa·s to 10⁴ Pa·s
frequencies 10^-4 Hz to 10 Hz
various geometries (cone and plate, plate and plate, Couette etc.)
temperature range from 273 to 523 K
adapted for simultaneous use with static light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS)

Dynamic Light Scattering Instrument

for macromolecular fluid characterization
measure particle sizes from 3 nm to 1 µm diameter
temperature range from 273 to 368 K

Mixture Preparation Facility

consisting of gas manifolds and a high-capacity (25 kg), high-precision (± 2 mg) balance for the preparation of test mixtures entirely in the gas phase
composition uncertainty of ± 10^-5 mass fraction

Pressure Calibration Facility

low pressure dead weight gauge 0 - 50 psia (0.345 MPa) range and 0 - 1,000 psia (6.895 MPa) range uncertainty 20 ppm
high pressure dead weight gauge 0 - 8,000 psia (55.16 MPa) uncertainty 100 ppm (0.01%)

Instruments under Development

Vibrating-Wire Viscometers

two instruments for the temperature range 80 to 500 K and 240 to 700 K, both with pressures up to 70 MPa
corrosion resistant

low-temperature instrument:

wire suspended under constant tension
magnets surrounded by sample fluid
nonpolar and polar fluids

high-temperature instrument:

wire clamped at both ends (van der Gulik design)
magnets separate from sample fluid
small sample volume of approx. 5.5 cm³
nonpolar and polar fluids
viscosity range variable with wire diameter and tension (presently 20 µPa·s to 0.5 mPa·s)
extended instrument theory by accounting for magnetic damping
characterized nonlinear effects in wire vibration
target accuracy ±2% in viscosity

Thermoelectric Total Enthalpy Flow Calorimeter

thermo-electric flow calorimeter
temperature range 77 to 700 K with pressures to 20 MPa
uncertainty: ±0.02 K in temperature, ±0.05% in pressure, enthalpy ±0.02%

Heat-of-Vaporization Calorimeter and Effusion Cell for Vapor Pressure Measurements

combined instrument for both measurements
temperature range 100 to 400 K
pressures from 10^-4 Pa to 100 kPa
uncertainty: ±0.02 K in temperature, 1 - 10% in vapor pressure depending on pressure regime
small sample volume

Short-Residence-Time Flow Instrument for critical temperature and critical pressure measurements of thermally unstable fluids

temperature Range: 300 to 1000 K
pressure Range: up to 10 MPa
uncertainty: ±0.08 K in temperature, ±0.01 MPa in pressure

Pulse-Echo Method for Speed of Sound Measurements

pure liquids and liquid mixtures
two 10 MHz-quartz crystals as emitter and receiver
temperature range from 60 to 330 K; pressures to 35 MPa
uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.01 to 0.05% in pressure, ± 0.05 % in sound speed

High-Speed Dynamic Light Scattering Instrument

time-correlation measurements down to *t = 1 ns
nine orders of magnitude dynamic range

Small Volume Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium Apparatus

temperature range: 223 -423 K
pressures to 6 MPa
small volume equilibrium cell; 30 ml
composition of both liquid and vapor phases determined by gas chromatography

Contact:
Dr. Mark McLinden NIST Physical and Chemical Properties Division Experimental Properties of Fluids Group Mail Stop 838.07 325 Broadway Boulder, CO 80305-3328 USA		+1-303-497-3580
		+1-303-497-5224

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Measurement Capabilities of the Experimental Properties of Fluids Group

coexisting liquid and vapor pressure, density, and mixture surface tension of coexisting liquid and vapor

temperature range from 213 to 423 K; pressures to 17 MPa

uncertainties of ± 0.02 K, ± 0.1 % in pressure, ± 0.5 kg/m3 , ± 0.005 in mole fraction, and ± 0.2 mN in surface tension

isochoric/variable temperature or isothermal/variable volume measurements possible

temperature range 223 to 423 K with pressures up to 20 MPa

uncertainty ±0.02 K in temperature, ±0.05% in pressure, ±5 kPa in saturation pressure detection, ±0.0005 mole fraction in composition

liquid, supercritical, and dense vapor states; also used for vapor pressure determination

temperature range from 80 to 400 K; pressures to 35 MPa

uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.01 to 0.05 % in pressure, and ± 0.05 % in density

for pressure-density-temperature (p-r-T) determinations of liquid, supercritical, and dense vapor states; also used for vapor pressure measurements

temperature range from 100 to 500 K; pressures to 40 MPa

uncertainties of ± 0.005 K, ± 0.02 % in pressure, and ± 0.01 to 0.05 % in density

liquid, supercritical, and dense vapor states; also used for triple point determinations

temperature range from 30 to 345 K; pressures to 35 MPa

uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.05 % in pressure, ± 0.15 % in density, and ± 0.5 % in Cv

liquid, supercritical, and dense vapor states

temperature range from 250 to 500 K; pressures to 20 MPa

uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.05 % in pressure, ± 0.1 % in density, and ± 0.4 % in Cv

vapor states; also used for determination of ideal-gas heat capacity (Cp0)

temperature range from 250 to 350 K; pressures to 7 MPa

uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.01 to 0.05% in pressure, ± 0.05 % in sound speed, and ± 0.5 % in Cp0

liquid, supercritical, and vapor states

wire diameters from 4 µm (gases) to 25 µm (liquids)

wires are made of platinum, tungsten, or tantalum

Tungsten and tantalum wires can be anodized for measurements in electrically conducting and corrosive liquids

transient and steady-state measurements

low-temperature instrument: temperature range from 30 to 330 K; pressures to 70 MPa

high-temperature instrument: temperature range from 223 to 700 K; pressures to 70 MPa

uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.05 % in pressure, and ± 1 % in thermal conductivity

thermal diffusivity measurements of liquids and near-critical fluid states

heterodyne and homodyne capability

temperature range from 80 to 550 K; pressures to 70 MPa

uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.05 % in pressure, and ± 2 % in thermal diffusivity

liquid, supercritical, and vapor states

viscosity range 0.01 mPa·s to 1000 mPa·s, expandable

semi-automated operation for unattended measurements of entire isotherms

low-temperature instrument:

temperature range from 30 to 340 K; pressures to 35 MPa

crystal diameter 5 mm, crystal length 50 mm, unswept quartz

measurement in time and in frequency domain (free decay and resonance)

high-temperature instrument:

temperature range from 300 to 420 K; pressures to 70 MPa

crystal diameter 3 mm, crystal length 50 mm, unswept quartz

use of swept quartz to extend temperature range up to 640 K in preparation

resonance measurement

uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.05 % in pressure, and ± 2 % in viscosity

Open Gravitational Capillary Viscometers

Ubbelohde viscometers, ISO/DIS 3105, ASTM D 2515

non-volatile liquids at atmospheric pressure

kinematic viscosity range 0.3 mm2·s-1 to 300 mm2·s-1

uncertainties of ± 0.02 K, and ± 0.2 % in viscosity

saturated liquid states

volatile liquids

compatible with corrosive liquids

Small sample volume of approx. 3 cm3

viscosity range 0.05 mPa·s to 2 mPa·s. Variable with capillary size

temperature range from 240 to 350 K; pressures to 3 MPa vapor pressure

two instruments with straight vertical and coiled capillary. Internal diameters of 0.508 mm and 0.236 mm. Other capillary sizes available.

uncertainties of ± 0.02 K, and ± 2 to 3 % in viscosity

Rheometry of Non-Newtonian Fluids

for viscosities from 1 mPa·s to 104 Pa·s

frequencies 10-4 Hz to 10 Hz

various geometries (cone and plate, plate and plate, Couette etc.)

temperature range from 273 to 523 K

adapted for simultaneous use with static light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS)

Dynamic Light Scattering Instrument

for macromolecular fluid characterization

measure particle sizes from 3 nm to 1 µm diameter

temperature range from 273 to 368 K

Mixture Preparation Facility

consisting of gas manifolds and a high-capacity (25 kg), high-precision (± 2 mg) balance for the preparation of test mixtures entirely in the gas phase

composition uncertainty of ± 10-5 mass fraction

Pressure Calibration Facility

low pressure dead weight gauge 0 - 50 psia (0.345 MPa) range and 0 - 1,000 psia (6.895 MPa) range uncertainty 20 ppm

high pressure dead weight gauge 0 - 8,000 psia (55.16 MPa) uncertainty 100 ppm (0.01%)

two instruments for the temperature range 80 to 500 K and 240 to 700 K, both with pressures up to 70 MPa

corrosion resistant

low-temperature instrument:

wire suspended under constant tension

uncertainties of ± 0.02 K, ± 0.1 % in pressure, ± 0.5 kg/m³ , ± 0.005 in mole fraction, and ± 0.2 mN in surface tension

uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.05 % in pressure, ± 0.15 % in density, and ± 0.5 % in C_v

uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.05 % in pressure, ± 0.1 % in density, and ± 0.4 % in C_v

vapor states; also used for determination of ideal-gas heat capacity (C_p⁰)

uncertainties of ± 0.03 K, ± 0.01 to 0.05% in pressure, ± 0.05 % in sound speed, and ± 0.5 % in C_p⁰

low-temperature instrument:
temperature range from 30 to 330 K; pressures to 70 MPa

high-temperature instrument:
temperature range from 223 to 700 K; pressures to 70 MPa

kinematic viscosity range 0.3 mm²·s^-1 to 300 mm²·s^-1

Small sample volume of approx. 3 cm³

for viscosities from 1 mPa·s to 10⁴ Pa·s

frequencies 10^-4 Hz to 10 Hz

composition uncertainty of ± 10^-5 mass fraction

small sample volume of approx. 5.5 cm³

pressures from 10^-4 Pa to 100 kPa

**time-correlation measurements down to *t = 1 ns**