The
viscometer provides a
viscosity value (Xη) which represents the
viscosity of a fluid flowing in a
pipe connected thereto. It comprises a vibratory
transducer with at least one flow tube for conducting the fluid, which communicates with the
pipe. Driven by an excitation
assembly, the flow tube is vibrated so that friction forces are produced in the fluid. The
viscometer further includes meter
electronics which feed an
excitation current (iexc) into the excitation
assembly. By means of the meter
electronics, a first internal intermediate value (X1) is formed, which corresponds with the
excitation current (iexc) and thus represents the friction forces acting in the fluid. According to the invention, a second internal intermediate value (X2), representing inhomogeneities in the fluid, is generated in the meter
electronics, which then determine the
viscosity value (Xη) using the two intermediate values (X1, X2). The first internal intermediate value (X1) is preferably normalized by means of an
amplitude control signal (yAM) for the
excitation current (iexc), the
amplitude control signal corresponding with the vibrations of the flow tube. As a result, the viscosity value (Xη) provided by the
viscometer is highly accurate and robust, particularly independently of the position of installation of the flow tube.