Specifications and installation requirements

Topic / feature

Specification

1. Dimensions and weight

Stainless steel cabinets total dimension (H x W x D) = 600 x 400 x 220 mm, not including protruding, heat sinks, valves and connectors.

Total dimension – see sketch below

Weight: Up to 38 kg (not including mounting rack)

2. Sample and liquid flows

See below for connection and mounting requirements

a) Sample is automatically pumped into RheoStream for analysis.

b) OPTIONAL: Sample is automatically filtered (200µm) before entering measuring system. Sample Filter can be back-flushed, when instructed (must be programmed by FLUIDAN based on requirements). Sample Filter can be replaced when instrument is not in operation.

c) Maximum 10 ml of Sample is spent for each measurement.

d) Cleaning Liquid is pumped automatically, when the RheoStream program instructs a cleaning cycle.

e) Spent Sample and spent Cleaning Liquid may be

i.   Discarded into drain/sewer

ii.  Discarded into waste container

iii. Pumped back into main product stream

3. Operation and interface

a) Instrument is operated via

i.  PC or touchscreen located near RheoStream or in control room

ii. Customer MES/SCADA system – measurements are continuously read out via system. The communication protocol must be further specified and is not covered by this document.

b) Communication is via Ethernet, RJ45, using OPC-UA.

c) RheoStream raw data and measurement results are made available to Fluian via internet.

Customer is responsible for design of control and data screens in MES/SCADA system, based on recommendations from Fluidan.

4. Calibration included

a) The instrument is calibrated for Customer specific liquid type and will be applicable for liquids, which do not significantly deviate from this.

b) The calibration is made by FLUIDAN against reference measurements made on a reference viscometer/rheometer.

c) A control and re-calibration of the specific instrument is provided, after installation of the instrument. This requires that at least 5 different samples (representing a typical variation in the plant) are analyzed in parallel on a reference instrument (by Customer or by FLUIDAN) and on RheoStream.

5. Additional calibration

a) In case Customer introduces different formulations FLUIDAN can provide new calibrations under service agreement.

6. Measurement

a) During normal operation (not cleaning, changing filter or running Calibration Check) the instrument conducts a new analysis and provides data output every max. 1-5 minutes (depends on the liquid and rheology). A slower frequency can be selected.

b) Temperature of measurement (15-60°C) can be selected – time to adjust to a change is 15 min-1 hour. Temperature is maintained ±0.2°C.

c) The data output includes:

RheoStream FC^®:
Viscometry (flow curve, 3-8 points of shear stress or viscosity vs. shear rate)
Key parameters of models:
Power law: n, K
Bingham, Hershel-Bulkley: Yield stress (σ₀), etc.

RheoStream VE®, same as RheoStream FC and additionally:
Viscoelasticity:
G’ , G’’ , G*, tan(δ)

d) Liquid temperature inside the measuring system is also read out.

7. Accuracy and Precision*

a) Viscometry: Accuracy (vs. reference method) < 5% CV * ; Precision < 5% CV

b) Yield Stress: Accuracy (vs. reference method) < 5-10% CV * ; Precision < 10% CV

c) G’ and G’’: Accuracy (vs. reference method) < 5-10% CV * ; Precision < 10% CV

* Accuracy and Precision is still being optimized

8. Cleaning

a) Cleaning cycles takes 3-15 minutes, during which no measurements are made.

b) Cleaning is initated by the RheoStream program at times or frequencies to be specified.

c) Up to 500 ml of Cleaning Liquid is used for each cleaning cycle.

9. Calibration Check
OPTIONAL

a) RheoStream can be programmed to perform a Calibration Check at predetermined intervals or times.

b) The Calibration Check will provide a warning, if the calibration is outside a predetermined interval (e.g.±2%).

10. RheoStream programs

a) Programs for startup, filling, measurement, cleaning, filter cleaning, calibration check and shut down are provided by Fluidan.

b) On request, additional program versions are supplied in the testing period and later under service agreement.

11. Protection class

IP66 certified according to EN 60529:1991 + A1:2000 + A2:2013

12. Functional approval

a) Prior to installation Fluidan will conduct a Factory Approval Test (FAT) to verify the full function of the instrument.