Measurement and Control
Liquid Viscosity Correlations
for Flowmeter Calculations
Roger Gilmont, Use these graphs and equations to calculate
Gilmont and Associates liquid viscosity at any temperature.
T he flow characteristics of a flowmeter are usual-
ly expressed as the flow of standard fluids, such
as air and water at the standard conditions of
temperature (T0 = 21.1°C; 70°F) and pressure
(1 atm). The flowmeter manufacturer normally supplies
these data together with methods of converting them to the
flow of any other fluid over a suitable range of conditions
where the density and viscosity are known. This information
for many fluids is given in tabular or graphical form. The
correlations presented in this article express the viscosity of
liquids in analytical form as a function of temperature.
The Othmer plot displays the log of a function (in this
case, that which describes viscosity of a liquid), against the
log of the vapor pressure of water at the same temperature,
which results in a straight line for practically all com-
pounds. This can be expressed in graphical form as a
nomograph. In order to obtain an analytical expression, it
is necessary to express the vapor pressure of water as an
analytical equation. This article uses the Antoine equation
for this purpose.
The viscosity of gases is independent of pressure until
the pressure exceeds 10 atm. Above this value, the viscosity
of the gas is correlated by another Othmer plot, namely the
log of the viscosity vs. log Pk/ρ, where Pk = P + a/V2; Pk =
kinetic pressure of gas, P = gas pressure, a = van der Waals
constant, V = molar volume and ρ = density of the gas.
This article provides a method of correlating the viscos-
ity of liquids using the same type of Othmer plot used for
gases. Since for flowmeter calculations the viscosity of liq-
uids can be taken as independent of pressure, there is no
need to correlate liquid viscosity vs. pressure.
The liquid viscosity correlation is based on the same
linear equation as that for the viscosity of gases:
log µ = M log pw + N (1)
where µ is the liquid viscosity, pw is vapor pressure of
water, M is slope and N is the y-intercept if a graph of log µ
vs. log pw were to be plotted. From this correlation, the
nomograph in Figure 1 was constructed (1, 2).
36 www.cepmagazine.org October 2002 CEP
For gases and liquids, the viscosity scale is logarith-
mic, while the temperature scale is nonlinear and is
based upon its relationship to the log of the vapor pres-
sure of the reference substance. This is shown graphical-
ly in Figure 1.
The x and y coordinates for various liquids that are
needed to use Figure 1 are listed in Tables 1a and 1b.
To obtain the viscosity, µ, of a particular liquid in cen-
tipoise, at a liquid temperature of T, first plot the point
(x, y) for the liquid on the grid. Then, draw a straight
line from that point through the temperature on the
left-hand y-axis. Extend the line to the right, so that it
intersects with the right-hand y-axis, which gives the
viscosity. Note that for all flowmeter calculations, the
viscosity of the liquid may be taken as independent of
pressure.
Analytical solution
To obtain an analytical solution to Eq. 1, the value of
pw, which is a function of temperature, must be trans-
formed into an analytical function. The Antoine equation
for vapor pressure was selected because it has a desirable
accuracy with a minimum number of parameters. The An-
toine equation is stated as:
log pw = –D/(T + F) + E (2)
For water, the parameters D, E and F have the following
values: D = 1,722, E = 8.052 and F = 233 (3). The vapor
pressure of the water, pw, is measured in torr at a tempera-
ture (T) measured in °C.
Combining Eqs. 1 and 2, then making some simplifying
substitutions, one obtains the final working equation:
log µ = G/(T + F) + H (3)
where G = –MD and H = ME + N. Eq. 3 can also be used
to obtain µ0 at T0 = 21.1°C (standard temperature):
log µ0 = G/(T0+ F) + H (4)
 200
100
380
190
80
360
180
60
170 340
50
160 320 The same substitution of F and T0 into
40
Eq. 6 yields:
150 300
30
140 280 Z = 1/(T + F) – 0.003935 (9)
130 20
260
120
Using Eq. 7, one obtains a plot of
240 log µ vs. Z for a given compound (such
110
220
as those listed in Tables 1a and 1b).
30 10
100 This plot is a straight line with a slope
90
200 28 8 of G and a y-intercept of log µ0. Eq. 7
26 6 can be used to determine µ at any de-
180
80 5 sired temperature, for any compound.
Temperature, ˚C

Temperature, ˚F

24
Subsequently, the analytically derived

Viscosity, cP
70 160 4
22 value of µ at a given temperature can be
3
60 140 compared with the value of µ obtained
20
by using Figure 1.
50 120 2
18 Let’s look at a sample calculation for
40 acetaldehyde. From Table 1a, x = 15.2
100 16
and y = 4.8. When this point is plotted
y

30
80
14
1 on Figure 1, we see that at standard tem-
12 0.8
perature (T0 = 21.1°C), µ0 = 0.223. At T
20
60
= 100°C, Figure 1 reveals that µ =
10 0.6 0.128. Z is calculated from Eq. 9: Z =
10
0.5 [(1/(100 + 233) – 0.003935] = –
40 8

0
0.4 0.000932. G is calculated by rearrang-
6
0.3
ing Eq. 7: G = [log(µ/µ0)]/Z = [log
20
-10
4 (0.128/0.223)]/(–0.000932) = 258.7.
2 0.2
This is the value of G that appears in
-20
0 Table 2 for acetaldehyde.
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
This value of G, which is constant,
-30 -20
x
can be used to calculate µ via Eq. 7 at a
0.1 given temperature. This value of µ will
Source: (2). be compared to that obtained from Fig-
ure 1 to determine the nomograph’s ac-
curacy. Let us find µ at 50°C.
■ Figure 1. Nomograph of viscosity vs. temperature for liquids listed in Tables 1a and 1b. To use,
plot the fluid’s (x, y) coordinates, and on the left-hand y-axis, plot the temperature. Draw a straight line
At 50°C, Z is calculated from Eq. 9
through these points to the right-hand y-axis to obtain the viscosity. to be –0.0004014. From Eq. 7, log µ =
log µ0 + GZ = –0.6517 +
(258.7)(–0.0004014) = –0.7555, and µ =
0.176. From Figure 1, µ at 50°C = 0.18.
Combining Eq. 3 and 4, one obtains: The average difference between the calculated values of µ
and those obtained from the nomograph is about 1%. The
 1 1  maximum difference ranges from 3 to 5%, with the higher
log µ = log µ 0 + G −  (5) error found at the higher values of µ. Not all of the com-
 T + F T0 + F 
pounds listed in Tables 1a and 1b are included in Tables 2a
Let Z = 1/ (T + F) – 1/(T0 + F) (6) and 2b — those compounds that are not liquids at normal
conditions are omitted.
and combine with Eq. 5 to yield:
log µ = log µ0 + GZ (7) Viscosity of glycerol
Glycerol’s viscosity is extremely sensitive to the amount
Substituting the values: F = 233 and T0 = 21.1 into Eq. 5 of water present in it. This makes it difficult to measure the
yields: viscosity of glycerol directly. In this article, glycerol pre-
log µ = log µ 0 + G
1 1 
−
 T + 233 254.1
(8) sents a challenge because its viscosity cannot be deter-
mined by using the nomograph when the temperature is
below 60°C. (Figure 1 limits the measurable viscosity of

CEP October 2002 www.cepmagazine.org 37

Measurement and Control

Table 1a. x and y values for liquid viscosity nomograph (Figure 1).
Liquid X Y Liquid X Y
Acetaldehyde 15.2 4.8 m-Cresol 2.5 20.8
Acetic acid, 100% 12.1 14.2 Cyclohexane 9.8 12.9
Acetic acid, 70% 9.5 17.0 Cyclohexanol 2.9 24.3 Nomenclature
Acetic anhydride 12.7 12.8 Dibromoethane 12.7 15.8 D = constant in Antoine equation
Acetone, 100% 14.5 7.2 Dichloroethane 13.2 12.2 E = constant in Antoine equation
Acetone, 35% 7.9 15.0 Dichloromethane 14.6 8.9 F = constant in Antoine equation
Acetonitrile 14.4 7.4 Diethyl ketone 13.5 9.2 G = –MD (Eq. 7)
Acrylic acid 12.3 13.9 Diethyl oxalate 11.0 16.4 G0 = value of G at T0
Allyl alcohol 10.2 14.3 Diethylene glycol 5.0 24.7 H = constant defined as ME + N using Antoine
Allyl bromide 14.4 9.6 Dimethyl oxalate 12.3 15.8 constants D, E and F (Eq. 3)
Allyl Iodide 14.0 11.7 Diphenyl 12.0 18.3 M = slope of log µ vs. log pw plot
Ammonia, 100% 12.6 2.0 Dipropyl ether 13.2 8.6 N = intercept of log µ vs. log pw plot
Ammonia, 26% 10.6 13.9 Dipropyl oxalate 10.3 17.7 P = pressure at which a gas’s viscosity
Amyl acetate 11.8 12.5 Ethyl acetate 13.7 9.1 becomes dependent upon pressure
Amyl alcohol 7.5 18.4 Ethyl acrylate 12.7 10.4 (greater than 10 atm)
Aniline 8.1 18.7 Ethyl alcohol, 100% 10.5 13.8 Pk = kinematic pressure of gas used in an
Anisole 12.3 13.5 Ethyl alcohol, 95% 9.8 14.3 Othmer plot to determine the gas’s
Arsenic trichloride 13.9 14.5 Ethyl alcohol, 40% 6.5 16.6 viscosity at pressures greater than 10 atm
Benzene 12.5 10.9 Ethyl benzene 13.2 11.5 pw = vapor pressure of water, torr
Brine, CaCl2, 25% 6.6 15.9 Ethyl bromide 14.5 8.1 T = temperature, °C
To = standard temperature = 21.1°C
Brine, NaCl, 25% 10.2 16.6 2-Ethyl butyl acrylate 11.2 14.0
Bromine 14.2 13.2 Ethyl chloride 14.8 6.0 X = Z × 104
Bromotoluene 20.0 15.9 Ethyl ether 14.5 5.3 Z = [1/(T + F) + 1/(T0 + F)]
Butyl acetate 12.3 11.0 Ethyl formate 14.2 8.4
Greek Symbols
i-Butyl acetate 13.1 11.3 Ethyl iodide 14.7 10.3
ε = [(µc – µ)/µc] × 100; percent error between
n-Butyl acrylate 11.5 12.6 Ethyl propionate 13.2 9.9
Butyl alcohol 8.6 17.2 Ethyl propyl ether 14.0 7.0 correlated (or calculated) value of µ obtained
i-Butyl bromide 13.1 10.9 Ethyl sulfide 13.8 8.9 from Figure 1 or from literature
µ = viscosity, cP
i-Butyl chloride 13.1 9.1 Ethylene bromide 11.9 15.7 µo = viscosity at T0 (21.1°C)
i-Butyl iodide 13.3 12.4 Ethylene chloride 12.7 12.2
µc = calculated viscosity for glycerol example
Butyric acid 12.1 15.3 Ethylene glycol 6.0 23.6
Carbon dioxide 11.6 0.3 2-Ethyl hexyl acrylate 9.0 15.0
Carbon disulfide 16.1 7.5 Ethylidene chloride 13.6 9.5 Let’s calculate µ at 25°C and com-
Carbon tetrachloride 12.7 13.1 Fluorobenzene 13.7 10.4
Chlorobenzene 12.3 12.4 Formic acid 10.7 15.8 pare it with the value of µ found in the lit-
Chloroform 14.4 10.2 Freon-11 14.4 9.0 erature. The log µc = 3.135 +
Chlorosulfonic acid 11.2 18.1 Freon-12 16.8 5.6 2,650(–0.0000595) = 2.9773, so log µc =
o-Chlorotoluene 13.0 13.3 Freon-21 15.7 7.5 949. The error, ε, is calculated as ε =
m-Chlorotoluene 13.3 12.5 Freon-22 17.2 4.7 100[(µc–µ)/µc] = 100[(949–954)/949] =
p-Chlorotoluene 13.3 12.5 Freon-113 12.5 11.4 –0.5%. A similar calculation at T = 50°C
Source: (2). yields log µc = 3.135 + 2,650(–0.0004019)
= 2.070, so µc = 117.5.
glycerol to 100 cP, which occurs at approximately 60°C). A comparison of the data points from the literature with
In order to obtain the viscosity of glycerol at temperatures the correlated ones appears in Table 3. For the range of
below 60°C, Figure 1 must be extrapolated, and the new 0–30°C, the average deviation (using the sum of the abso-
correlation, Eq. 7, must be used. lute values of ε) is 2.2%. If the data points at 15°C and
Table 3 lists values of Z over the temperature range T
= 0°C to T = 100°C calculated using Eq. 9. It also gives
the viscosities for glycerol from 0°C to 30°C, which Further Reading
were obtained from Ref. 4, and the logarithms of these This article is Part 4 of a series of articles that appeared in Measurement &
values. Control (M&C), which is now defunct. Part 1 (M&C, Dec. 1998, p. 92)
discussed finding the density of real gases for use in flowmeter calcula-
A plot of the log µ vs. Z based on this table is shown in tions. Part 2 (M&C, June 1999, p. 83) presented methods of correlating
Figure 2. The slope of this line is calculated as G = the density of liquids using an Othmer plot of the log of the density of
(y2–y1)/(x2–x1) between T = 0°C and T = 30°C, where: y2 = the compound versus the log of the density of a reference substance.
4.195 (at T = 0°C) and y1 = 2.870 (at T = 30°C); x2 = Z (at Part 3 (M&C, Oct. 1999, p. 78) showed gow to use the Othmer plot for
correlating the viscosity of the gases vs. the log of the vapor pressure of
0°C) = 0.0003563 and x1 = Z (at 30°C) = –0.0001332. Thus, a reference substance at the same temperature. This article covers cor-
G = [(4.195–2.870)/(0.0005)] = 2,650. The intercept of this relations for the viscosity of liquids using the same type of Othmer plot
graph, Z0 at T0 = 21.1°C, is log µ0 = 3.135. Now, Eq. 7 can used for gases.
be used to calculate viscosity of glycerol at any temperature.

38 www.cepmagazine.org October 2002 CEP

 Table 1b. x and y values for liquid viscosity nomograph (Figure 1).
Liquid x y Liquid x y
30°C, which vary somewhat from the
straight line, are omitted, the error is Glycerol, 100% 2.0 30.0 Phenol 6.9 20.8
Glycerol, 50% 6.9 19.6 Phosphorous tribromide 13.8 16.7
only 0.9%. The coordinates in Table Heptene 14.1 8.4 Phosphorous trichloride 16.2 10.9
1b for glycerol should be corrected to Hexane 14.7 7.0 Propionic acid 12.8 13.8
x = 0 and y = 27.7 in order to obtain Hydrochloric acid, 31.5% 13.0 16.6 Propyl acetate 13.1 10.3
good agreement at temperatures Iodobenzene 12.8 15.9 Propyl alcohol 9.1 16.5
above 50°C. The correlated values Isobutyl alcohol 7.1 18.0 Propyl bromide 14.5 9.6
can be expected to have an average Isobutyric acid 12.2 14.4 i- Propyl bromide 14.1 9.2
error of 0.9% for the range of Isopropyl alcohol 8.2 16.0 Propyl chloride 14.4 7.5
50–100°C. Kerosene 10.2 16.9 i-Propyl chloride 13.9 7.1
Linseed oil, raw 7.5 27.2 Propyl formate 13.1 9.7
Mercury 18.4 16.4 Propylene glycol 3.1 23.7
Viscosity of water
The viscosity of water does not fol- Methanol, 100% 12.4 10.5 Propyl iodide 14.1 11.6
Methanol, 90% 12.3 11.8 i-Propyl iodide 13.7 11.2
low the correlation because the plot of Methanol, 40% 7.8 15.5 Sodium 16.4 13.9
log µ vs. Z is not a straight line. Table Methyl acetate 14.2 8.2 Sodium hydroxide, 50% 3.2 25.8
4 lists the viscosity of water at Methyl acrylate 13.0 9.5 Stannic chloride 13.5 12.8
20–100°C, from data in Ref. 4, and a Methyl i-butyrate 12.3 9.7 Succinonitrile 10.1 20.8
plot of log µ vs. Z and G vs. Z is Methyl n-butyrate 13.2 10.3 Sulfur dioxide 15.2 7.1
shown in Figure 3. The curvature of Methyl chloride 15.0 3.8 Sulfuric acid, 110% 7.2 27.4
the plot indicates that G is not a con- Methyl ethyl ketone 13.9 8.6 Sulfuric acid, 100% 8.0 25.1
stant. The values of G in Table 4 were Methylene chloride 14.1 8.7 Sulfuric acid, 98% 7.0 24.8
Methyl formate 14.2 7.5 Sulfuric acid, 60% 10.2 21.3
obtained implicitly for each value of µ Methyl iodide 14.3 9.3 Sulfuryl chloride 15.2 12.4
by rearranging Eq. 7 and solving for
Methyl propionate 13.5 9.0 Tetrachloroethane 11.9 15.7
G. To render Eq. 7 an accurate correla- Methyl propyl ketone 14.3 9.5 Tetrachloroethylene 14.2 12.7
tion for water, G will be treated as a Methyl sulfide 15.3 6.4 Thiophene 13.2 11.0
quadratic function of Z: Naphthalene 7.9 18.1 Titanium tetrachloride 14.4 12.3
Nitric acid, 95% 12.8 13.8 Toluene 13.7 10.4
G'= G0 + AX + BX2 (10) Nitric acid, 60% 10.8 17.0 Trichloroethylene 14.8 10.5
Nitrobenzene 10.6 16.2 Triethylene glycol 4.7 24.8
where X = Z × 104. To find G0 at Nitrogen dioxide 12.9 8.6 Turpentine 11.5 14.9
21.1°C, one must interpolate between Nitrotoluene 11.0 17.0 Vinyl acetate 14.0 8.8
G at T = 20°C and T = 40°C; G0 = Octane 13.7 10.0 Vinyl toluene 13.4 12.0
Octyl alcohol 6.6 21.1 Water 10.2 13.0
670.3. Pentachloroethane 10.9 17.3 o-Xylene 13.5 12.1
Eq. 10 can be transformed into a Pentane 14.9 5.2 m-Xylene 13.9 10.6
linear equation as follows: p-Xylene 13.9 10.9
Source: (2).
(G' – G0)/X = A + BX
log µc = log µ0 + G'(Z) (13)
Define ∆ = (G' – G0)/X = A + BX (11)
If T = 20°C, then log µc = –0.0093 + (0.0000171) ×
The values of ∆ can be calculated for water at the tem- [670.3 + 12.8(0.171) + 0.299(0.0292)] = 0.0022, and µc
peratures in Table 4. These values are plotted against X (or = 1.0051.
Z × 104) in Figure 3. Since this plot is lin-
ear, we can find the values of the slope, B, Table 3. Glycerol viscosity vs. temperature.
and the y-intercept, A, by reading them di-
T °C Z µ† log µ µc ε
rectly from the graph:
At X = 0, A = ∆ = 12.80, and B = (12.8 – 0 0.0003563 12,100 4.083 12,000 –0.9
6 0.0002486 6,260 3.797 6,220 –0.6
9.81)/[(0 – (–10)] = 0.299. 15 0.0000968 2,330 3.367 2,463 +5.4
We now have a quadratic expression 20 0.0000171 1,490 3.173 1,515 +1.7
for G that can be used in Eq. 10 to find µc:
25 –0.0000595 954 2.980 949 –0.5
30 –0.0001332 629 2.799 605 –4.0
G' = 670.3 + 12.8X + 0.299X2 50 –0.0004019 No Data 117.5 –
= 670.3 + 12.8(Z × 104) 100 –0.0009325 No Data 4.63 –
+ 0.299(Z2 × 108) (12) †Source: (4).

CEP October 2002 www.cepmagazine.org 39

Measurement and Control
Table 2a. Constants for compounds from Figure 1 for use with Eq. 7.
Compound µ0 log µ0 G Compound µ0 log µ0 G
Acetaldehyde 0.223 –0.6517 258.7 m-Chlorotoluene 0.88 –0.0555 381.6
Acetic acid 1.28 0.1072 476.8 p-Chlorotoluene 0.88 –0.0555 381.6
Acetic anhydride 0.91 –0.0410 419.3 m-Cresol 21.0 1.3222 1807
Acetone 0.332 0.4789 306.4 Cyclohexane 1.0 0 646.0
Acetonitrile 0.350 –0.4559 320.4 Cyclohexanol 70.0 1.8451 1719
Acrylic acid 1.18 0.0719 449.2 Diethyl ketone 0.485 –0.3143 343.6
Allyl alcohol 1.37 0.1367 635.8 Diethyl oxalate 2.11 0.3243 567.0
Ally bromide 52 –0.2840 310.6 Diethylene glycol 39.0 1.5911 1303
Allyl iodide 0.75 –0.1249 342.1 Dipropyl ether 0.423 –0.3737 400.7
n-Amyl acetate 0.9 –0.0458 496.6 Dipropyl oxalate 2.80 0.4472 623.3
n-Amyl alcohol 4.38 0.6415 911.1
Aniline 4.35 0.6385 858.0 Ethyl acetate 0.475 –0.3233 360.8
Anisole 1.10 0.0414 448.7 Ethyl acrylate 0.60 –0.2218 427.0
Arsenic trichloride 1.30 0.1139 352.6 Ethyl alcohol 1.19 0.0755 596.2
Benzene 0.65 –0.1871 436.1 Ethyl benzene 0.725 –0.1397 388.4
Bromine 1.00 0 323.0 Ethyl bromide 0.400 –0.3979 300.3
n-Butyl acetate 0.67 –0.1739 450.2 2-Ethyl butyl acrylate 1.25 0.0969 542.7
i-Butyl acetate 0.72 –0.1427 404.8 Ethyl ether 0.237 –0.6253 294.3
n-Butyl acrylate 0.90 –0.0458 511.9 Ethyl formate 0.425 –0.3716 328.5
n-Butyl alcohol 2.9 0.4623 800.8 Ethyl iodide 0.600 –0.2218 293.0
i-Butyl bromide 0.65 –0.1871 409.4 Ethyl propionate 0.53 –0.2757 344.6
i-Butyl chloride 0.47 –0.3279 398.1 Ethyl propyl ether 0.320 –0.4949 337.7
i-Butyl iodide 0.87 –0.0605 377.5 Ethyl sulfide 0.450 –0.3468 352.8
Butyric acid 1.60 0.2041 472.8 Ethylene bromide 1.71 0.2330 480.3
Carbon disulfide 0.37 0.4318 211.5 Ethylene chloride 0.85 –0.0706 429.7
Carbon tetrachloride 1.00 0 427.0 Ethylene glycol 21.8 1.3385 1130
Chlorobenzene 0.89 –0.0506 448.4 2-Ethyl hexyl acrylate 1.68 0.2253 754.2
Chloroform 0.58 –0.2366 307.2 Ethylidene chloride 0.50 –0.3010 364.0
Chlorosulfonic acid 3.00 0.4771 555.9 Fluorobenzene 0.60 –0.2218 350.2
o-Chlorotoluene 1.07 0.0294 403.6 Formic acid 1.81 0.2577 581.2
Source: (3).

Table 2b. Constants for compounds from Figure 1 for use with Eq. 7.
Compound µ0 log µ0 G Compound µ0 log µ0 G
Glycerol 1365 3.135 2650 Propionic acid 1.12 0.0492 404.6
Heptene 0.42 –0.3768 331.9 Propyl acetate 0.57 –0.2441 393.5
Hexane 0.331 –0.4801 330.2 n-Propyl alcohol 2.32 0.3655 734.2
Iodobenzene 1.11 0.2330 416.2 Propyl bromide 0.51 –0.2924 300.6
Isobutyl alcohol 4.05 0.6075 984.2 i-Propyl bromide 0.482 –0.3170 328.8
Isobutyric acid 1.30 0.1139 454.6 Propyl chloride 0.357 –0.4473 306.4
Isopropyl alcohol 2.25 0.3522 854.0 i-Propyl chloride 0.321 –0.4935 339.3
Methanol 0.59 –0.2291 449.3 Propyl formate 0.52 –0.2840 325.5
Methyl acetate 0.408 –0.3893 327.6 Propylene glycol 50.1 1.6998 1658.4
Methyl acrylate 0.50 –0.3010 404.3 Propyl iodide 0.62 –0.2076 329.5
Methyl i-butyrate 0.50 –0.3010 446.0 i-Propyl iodide 0.70 –0.1549 349.3
Methyl n-butyrate 0.59 –0.2291 381.9 Stannic chloride 0.91 –0.0410 353.6
Methyl ethyl ketone 0.43 –0.3665 354.4 Succinonitrile 5.6 0.7482 627.6
Methylene chloride 0.435 –0.3615 328.4 Sulfuric acid 22.0 1.3424 853.8
Methyl formate 0.352 –0.4535 326.7 Sulfuryl chloride 0.87 –0.0605 266.6
Methyl iodide 0.500 –0.3010 304.7 Tetrachloroethane 1.70 0.2304 483.7
Methyl propionate 0.458 –0.3391 370.1 Tetrachloroethylene 1.72 0.2355 481.5
Methyl propyl ketone 0.501 –0.3001 304.0 Thiophene 0.66 –0.1805 390.0
Methyl sulfide 301 –0.5214 255.4 Titanium tetrachloride 0.85 –0.0706 311.1
Nitric acid, 95% 1.13 0.0531 418.8 Toluene 0.60 –0.2218 362.4
Nitrobenzene 2.05 0.3118 596.5 Trichloroethylene 0.61 –0.2146 285.5
Nitrotoluene 3.35 0.3711 557.8 Triethylene glycol 42.5 1.6284 1340.1
Octane 0.55 –0.2596 354.6 Vinyl acetate 0.450 –0.3468 336.6
n-Octyl alcohol 10.0 1.0000 1028.5 Vinyl toluene 0.80 –0.0960 364.5
Pentachloroethane 2.53 0.4031 566.6 Water 0.9788 –0.009 G(X)*
Pentane 0.238 –0.6234 281.8 o-Xylene 0.83 –0.0809 369.1
Phenol 8.5 0.9294 997.2 m-Xylene 0.61 –0.2147 343.8
Phosphorous tribromide 1.90 0.2788 348.2. p-Xylene 0.65 –0.1871 329.1
Phosphorous trichloride 0.66 –0.1805 199.6
Source (3). *G’ = G 0 + AX + BX 2, where X = Z(104) and G 0 = 670.3, A = 12.80, B = 0.299 (for T = 20–100°C).

40 www.cepmagazine.org October 2002 CEP

 4
13
0.2

12 650
0.1

11
∆
3.5 0

G
10

-0.1 G 600

log µ
log µ

9
-0.2

Log µ
3
-0.3

-0.4

-0.5
T˚C
2.5 80 60 40 20
T˚C 100
30 25 20 15 10 5 0
-10 -5 0

-2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 X = Z × 104

Z × 104 ■ Figure 3. Graph of log µ, G and ∆ vs. X (or Z × 104) for water. Values of
µ are from Ref. 4. Values of G are calculated using Eq. 7. Values of ∆ are
■ Figure 2. Graph of log µ vs. Z (from Eq. 7) for glycerol. Values of µ are calculated using Eq. 11.
from Ref. 4.

The percent error between this value and that obtained
from literature is calculated as ε = (1.0051–
1.0050)/1.0051 × 100 = +0.01%. The average error be-
tween the data points and the correlated values in the range
20–100°C is only ±0.026%. Since the data in this region
are only accurate to ±0.03%, the correlated values may be
considered as valid as the tabulated ones.
Working example
This example illustrates the calculation of the viscosity
of hexane at 25°C. From Table 2b, log µ0 = –0.4801 and G
= 330.2. From Eq. 9, Z = [1/(25 + 233) – 0.003935] =
–5.903 × 10–5. Using Eq. 7, log µ = –0.4801 +
(330.2)(–5.903 × 10–5) = –0.4996, and µ = 0.316, compared
with 0.32 from Figure 1. CEP

Literature Cited
ROGER GILMONT is the retired president of Roger Gilmont Associates (38-41
1. Othmer, D. F., and R. Gilmont, “Correlating Physical and Thermo-
dynamic Properties,” Petroleum Refiner, pp. 111–118 (Nov. 1951).
2. Aronson, M. H., and R. C. Nelson, “Viscosity Measurement and
Control,” Instruments Publishing Co., Pittsburgh (1964).
3. Gilmont, R., “Correlations for the Density and Viscosity of Fluids
for Flowmeter Calculations: Part 3, Viscosity of Gases,” Measure-
ment and Control, pp. 78–83 (Oct. 1999).
4. Weats, R. C., “Handbook of Chemistry and Physics,” 53rd ed.,
Chemical Rubber Publishing Co., Cleveland, OH (1972).
240th St., Douglaston, NY 11363; Phone/Fax: (718) 224-8711), exclusive
consultants to Gilmont Instruments, a div of Barnant Co. Gilmont is a Fellow
of the Polytechnic Univ. (Brooklyn, NY), where he was an adjunct professor
in chemical engineering for 45 years, teaching thermodynamics and
electrochemical technology at the graduate and undergraduate levels. He
authored a textbook on thermodynamic principles for chemical engineers,
and has written more than 50 articles on thermodynamics, fluid flow and
laboratory instruments. He has also received over 30 patents in these areas.
Gilmont is a member of the American Chemical Society and AIChE.

Table 4. Water viscosity vs. temperature.

T °C Z µ† log µ G X X2 ∆ µc ε
20 0.0000171 1.0050 0.0022 672.5 0.171 0.0292 12.87 1.0051 +0.01
21.1 0 0.9788 –0.0093 670.3 0 0 12.80 0.9788 —
40 –0.0002725 0.6560 –0.1831 637.8 –2.725 7.426 11.93 0.6560 0.00
60 –0.0005225 0.4688 –0.3290 611.9 –5.225 27.301 11.18 0.4689 +0.02
80 –0.0007406 0.3565 –0.4479 592.2 –7.406 54.85 10.55 0.3566 +0.03
100 –0.0009325 0.2838 –0.5470 576.6 –9.325 86.96 10.05 0.2836 –0.07
†Source: (4).

CEP October 2002 www.cepmagazine.org 41