FUNDAMENTAL-ASPECTS OF VISCOSITY MONITORING BY THE HOT-WIRE TECHNIQUE

Fundamental aspects of the monitoring of viscosity by the hot wire technique in stagnant test fluid was investigated. The behavior of the hot wire viscosity sensor was well described, theoretically, by the stagnant layer analysis combined with the Ostrach solution for natural convection heat‐transfer from a vertical plate. To improve the sensitivity of the sensor to the change in viscosity of a test fluid, lower curvature for the sensor structure and higher heat flux for the operating condition were recommended theoretically and proved experimentally. As a practical example, the change in apparent viscosity during the coagulation of soy protein was monitored using the hot wire sensor. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved