Abstract: A method of and system for obtaining a consistent volume of a viscous material includes inserting a sample holder portion of a collection device into a body of the viscous material and filling an open, concave sample receptacle of the sample holder portion with the viscous material. A scrapper is used to remove excess viscous material above the open, concave receptacle. The collection device and the viscous material loaded therein are inserted into a sample vial. Then, the sample vial with the collection device therein is inserted into the port of an analyzer.

Abstract: In the production of petroleum-based products in a refinery, viscosity and density are accurately and repeatedly measured at an elevated temperature, sometimes in a hostile environment. A densitometer and viscometer are located in a non-purged enclosure, but the electrical controls that could cause a spark to ignite fumes are located in a purged enclosure with connections there between. A heat pipe extending from the purged enclosure to the non-purged enclosure accurately controls the temperature of a sample during testing. For difficult to handle petroleum-based products such as asphalt, a sample conditioning system prepares the sample prior to testing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is shown for determining the pumpability limit, freeze point and/or pour point of liquids, particularly fuels, at sub-ambient temperatures. A sample is placed in a viscometer which viscometer is rapidly cooled by a chiller. During cooling, after some measurements of temperature and viscosity, further temperatures and viscosity are approximated using the least squares method, which temperature and viscosity are subsequently measured to determine the pumpability limit. Continuation of the method will also give the freeze point and pour point of the sample being tested.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is shown for determining the pumpability limit, freeze point and/or pour point of liquids, particularly fuels, at sub-ambient temperatures. A sample is placed in a viscometer which viscometer is rapidly cooled by a chiller. During cooling, after some measurements of temperature and viscosity, further temperatures and viscosity are approximated using the least squares method, which temperature and viscosity are subsequently measured to determine the pumpability limit. Continuation of the method will also give the freeze point and pour point of the sample being tested.