DESARROLLO DE UN VISCOSÍMETRO DE CAIDA DE CUERPO PARA CARACTERIZAR BIOCOMBUSTIBLES A ALTA PRESION

Abstract

The current trend concerning energy makes it essential to focus our efforts on research which does not lose sight of its sustainability. This is closely connected to our society’s dependence on oil, one of our most serious problems nowadays, which will probably get worse in the future. This problem has become noticeable in recent years, not only because the unending demand for energy resources has led to a shortage of these, but also due to the class and political instability which has affected a number of oil-producing countries, thus causing uncertainty about the future of petroleum. In light of this new scenario, biofuels become entirely relevant. Governments, together with the European Union, being aware of this new state of affairs, have devised several measures, whose aim is to encourage the use of biofuels. It is worth pointing out that biofuels will not only allow us to become less dependent on oil, but will also help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions. Knowing thermophysical properties is very mportant for the development of new biofuels, viscosity being an essential one in process engineering. To get this aim, a falling body viscometer has been developed and automated, letting us measuring biofuels and blends viscosities at high pressures (up to 140 MPa). This research starts by commissioning and calibrating a falling body viscometer (cylinder) in order to measure the viscosity of heptane and 1-propanol at 293.15 K and 313.15 K and pressures up to 140 MPa.