For the commercial oil-analysis lab that needs hundreds of kinematic-viscosity measurements per shift, run unattended overnight, with on-line PCS validation and the right tube selected automatically for every sample.
A Houillon viscometer is a capillary-tube viscometer geometry, originally developed in France, optimized for automated kinematic-viscosity measurement at 40°C and 100°C. A precise volume of sample falls through a narrow-bore glass capillary under gravity at controlled temperature; the time to fall between two optical sensors, multiplied by the tube’s calibrated factor, gives the kinematic viscosity in cSt (mm²/s). The same tube can be used over a defined viscosity range; tubes with different factors cover the rest.
The robotic automation layer — what CINRG’s CS-HVA adds — takes the Houillon baths (ISL/PAC viscometer baths in current installations) and surrounds them with an XYZ robot, a syringe pump, a wash station, automated solvent filling, and fuzzy-logic tube selection. Together, they convert what was previously a labor-intensive sequence of operator decisions into an unattended overnight run.
The relevant standard is ASTM D7279-14, “Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids by Automated Houillon Viscometer.” D7279 is the modern alternative to the older ASTM D445 (manual U-tube capillary viscometry) for high-throughput laboratory use. The two methods produce equivalent kinematic-viscosity values; D7279 is significantly faster per sample and supports unattended operation.
The CS-HVA processes a sample in roughly 40 seconds — 90–100 samples per hour. Each sample passes through this sequence inside the instrument:
Process-control standards (PCS) interleave automatically through the run. Each tube can be configured with up to 2 PCS; the 4-bath system supports up to 16 PCS in total. If a PCS measurement falls outside its configured upper or lower threshold, the tube is automatically locked out of service, prior samples on that tube are quarantined to a fail directory, and the remaining tubes continue running unaffected.
The decision is throughput-driven.
| CS-HVA-2 (2-bath) | CS-HVA-4 (4-bath) | |
|---|---|---|
| Bath count | 2 | 4 |
| Typical temperature setup | 1 × 40°C, 1 × 100°C | 2 × 40°C, 2 × 100°C |
| Sample throughput | ~600 measurements / 8-hr shift | Up to 1,200 measurements / 8-hr shift |
| Sample capacity (per load) | Up to 4 trays of 200 = 800 samples | Up to 4 trays of 200 = 800 samples |
| PCS configuration | Up to 8 (2 per tube × 4 tubes typical) | Up to 16 (2 per tube × 8 tubes typical) |
| Footprint | ~7 ft / 214 cm wide | ~10 ft / 320 cm wide |
| Weight | ~300 lb / 136 kg | ~500 lb / 226 kg |
| Right for | Labs under ~400 samples/day | Labs at 600+ samples/day or running both KV40 and KV100 in parallel |
Both configurations share the same software, same fuzzy-logic tube assignment, same wash station, same multi-point calibration support, and the same ISO/IEC 17025 validation track record. The choice is throughput, not capability. If your lab volume is under 400 samples per day, the CS-HVA-2 has plenty of headroom. If you regularly run 600+ samples or want to clear the day’s queue overnight, the CS-HVA-4 doubles the parallel capacity.
“The CINRG robotic viscometer system has improved repeatability of viscosity results and freed up close to one full day of technician time. A definite win-win for our laboratory.”Frank PerriWearCheck Canada, Toronto
“After two months working with the CS-HVA-1 we think it is, by far, the biggest advance in automation we have in our labs. We are fully satisfied with its performance and results.”Jose IgnacioTekniker, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited testing laboratory
“CINRG CS-HVA validation runs against Conostan certified standards produced internal-standard sample populations of n=196 with measured KV40 and KV100 values consistently inside the ±2% certified bounds.”CINRG technical validationData available on request as basis for customer-side ISO 17025 method validation
A Houillon viscometer is a capillary-tube viscometer designed for kinematic-viscosity measurement at 40°C and 100°C. A robotic Houillon viscometer adds an XYZ robot, syringe pump, and wash station that automate the sample handling — letting the lab run hundreds of samples per shift unattended under ASTM D7279-14.
ASTM D7279-14 is the Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids by Automated Houillon Viscometer. It defines the operation of automated Houillon-type capillary viscometers at 40°C and 100°C and is the modern alternative to ASTM D445 (manual U-tube capillary) for high-throughput lab use. The two methods produce equivalent kinematic-viscosity values.
CINRG’s CS-HVA loads a sample every 40 seconds (~90 samples/hour). A 2-bath CS-HVA-2 delivers up to ~600 viscosity measurements per 8-hour shift; a 4-bath CS-HVA-4 doubles that to up to 1,200 measurements per shift. Both run unattended overnight with auto-solvent filling and idle-timeout pump shutdown.
Each sample in the batch file carries an expected viscosity at 40°C and 100°C. The CS-HVA software assigns the sample to the correct viscometer tube factor automatically. If the right-factor tube is busy, the system queues the sample. If no suitable tube is currently in service, the sample is skipped and retried later when a matching tube is free. This eliminates the operator-error mode of selecting the wrong tube and producing an out-of-bounds analysis time.
Yes. Bath temperature is set per-bath. A typical 4-bath configuration runs two baths at 40°C and two at 100°C, producing both KV40 and KV100 in the same overnight run. KV100 accuracy benefits significantly from multi-point calibration, which the CS-HVA software supports natively.
Negligible. The syringe minimizes wetted surface during sampling; after dispensing, the needle is washed at a six-jet station with solvent plus mechanical agitation and a drying pad. Automated solvent filling holds the cleaning reservoirs at constant level for reproducible rinse pressure. CINRG ISO/IEC 17025 validation runs show internal-standard distributions tightening significantly after CS-HVA installation versus prior manual workflows.
Tell us your daily sample volume, KV40/KV100 split, and bath preference. A CINRG engineer will help you choose between the CS-HVA-2 and CS-HVA-4.
Tell us about your throughput, your test methods, and your facility. A CINRG engineer will help you scope the right configuration — and put you in touch with your nearest dealer.