On-line rheometer for process control
Rheology is the science of the flow and deformation of matter, the most familiar aspect of which is the viscosity of a liquid. A rheometer measures the characteristic flow properties of liquids (e.g. viscosity and elasticity). This project will commercialise novel CSIRO technologies for an online process control rheometer that delivers real-time data and maintains better quality control for production processes. Key steps are construction of in-house facilities for rapid, iterative, applications-based developmental cycles, prototype and pre-production testing at industry partner sites, and user interface (software) development.
Founded by Pat and Kaye Griffin, beginning in a home-office in April 1998, Rheology Solutions has grown to become the largest specialist rheology instrumentation company in Australia, with an office, workshop and laboratory facility in Bacchus Marsh outside Melbourne and four full-time employees.
Invented by the CSIRO, and first patented in Australia in 2002, the Online Rheometer (OLR) is an on-line process control instrument that delivers real-time data to achieve and maintain better quality control for production processes. The OLR continuously measures and delivers the flow properties of a liquid in a pipe, in real time.
Across key process industry sectors such as food processing, pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals, product quality is verified by measuring the flow properties (rheology) of liquids. Currently, these measurements are either through laboratory analysis which is highly accurate, or real-time, through in- or on-line viscometers, where low quality data compromises reliable interpretation. The OLR will deliver laboratory quality data in real time, to maximise the benefits achieved with real-time process control.
The OLR project is a new direction for Rheology Solutions, with the project funded 50% by Rheology Solutions and 50% by Commercialisation Australia under the Early Stage Commercialisation component of the program.
According to Dr Tim Kealy, OLR Project Director, “The Commercialisation Australia funding has facilitated the design and construction of a second-generation OLR, improving significantly on the original version. In addition, with Commercialisation Australia funding we have been able to design and install an instrumented pilot-plant pipe-loop (pictured above), to allow extended testing of the OLR prototypes as they are developed, and a viable comparison with existing technologies. A major international pharmaceutical company is engaged with us in the OLR trials, and when the technology is proven, this company is likely to be our first major global customer’.
The image below is a schematic diagram illustrating the proposed operation of the OLR.
[Pictures courtesy of Rheology Solutions Pty Ltd]