Small in size and capable of working under a range of pressures and temperatures, viscometers made by Cambridge Viscosity are widely used by engineers of compressors and air-conditioning systems.
A senior engineer at a North American compressor manufacturer said: 'Too much lubricant and the compressor does not cool properly; but too much refrigerant and the compressor's life is shortened by bearing wear.
'To find the right balance for each of our products, we use Cambridge viscometers.
The ability to mount these viscometers directly in our test compressors cannot be duplicated by any other viscometer,' the engineer added.
According to Cambridge Viscosity, air-conditioning and compressor manufacturers worldwide are developing new mixtures and re-designing their equipment for more environmentally friendly refrigerants.
This affects compressors and air-conditioning systems for households, businesses and vehicles.
Cambridge Viscosity reports that engineers typically mount its SPL571 or SPL501 sensors directly in the compressor sump or a pressurised line, taking continuous viscosity and temperature measurements throughout the test cycle.
In addition, manufacturers of both refrigerants and lubrication oil use Cambridge Viscosity Viscolab PVT high-pressure viscometers to analyse mixtures and their components to simulate pressure extremes in the rolling elements of the compressor.
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