THE EFFECT OF HEAT ON OIL VISCOSITY IN INDUSTRIAL SECTORS

In an industrial setting, oil viscosity directly impacts its quality and the ease at which you can extract it.

Among various factors, temperature often determines the viscosity of the oil. That is a factor you can manage through temperature control. This post will examine how temperature affects the viscosity of oil, namely, heat, and how you can handle it.

A fluid’s viscosity refers to its resistance to flow and shear. A liquid with low viscosity is free-flowing and moves faster and easier, water being an excellent example of this. On the other hand, high viscosity fluids move slower and less quickly. Examples of high viscosity fluids include syrup and molasses. Of course, oil falls in the category of being a high viscosity fluid.

The chemical structure of oil contributes to viscosity. Oil has large molecules, which gives it a thicker and heavier consistency than other liquids such as water.

With that said, different types of oil can change consistencies over time. For example, the molecules in mineral oil can vary in size and structure over time. The result of this is a change in viscosity as mineral oil ages. On the other hand, synthetic oils retain their molecular structure due to how manufacturers process them. These oils keep the same density throughout their lifespan.