Alternative to the Vinci UC20
Why laboratories compare
Laboratories compare the UC-200 with the UC20 when the test programme is mostly drainage end-points and plug preparation, when a camera system and its software are more than the budget allows, or when saturation by mass is the preferred reference method.
Coretest UC-200 High-Speed Core Centrifuge vs Vinci UC20
| Coretest UC-200 High-Speed Core Centrifuge | Vinci UC20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Saturation measurement | Plug mass before the run and after each step on a laboratory balance | Camera synchronized with the tachometer reads each tube during rotation |
| Plug size | 1 in or 1.5 in, up to 2 in long; holder count per rotor | 1.5 in up to 2 in (3 per rotor); 1 in up to 1 in and 30 mm up to 30 mm (6 per rotor) |
| Maximum speed | About 11,000 rpm with the standard rotor; lower for large-plug rotors (for example 9,000 rpm for 3 × 1.5 in) | 16,500 rpm drainage on 1.5 in; up to 20,000 rpm on 1 in |
| Speed control | 50 rpm steps, ±50 rpm; speed or RCF entry | ±20 rpm; minimum 1,000 rpm |
| Tests | Drainage capillary pressure, Swi end-points, plug preparation | Drainage and imbibition Pc, Kr from production |
| Chamber temperature | Refrigerated; setting −20 to +40 °C, held down to about +15 °C at full speed | Ambient |
| Programs | Up to 10 speed steps per program, 100 programs | Speed ramp available |
| Software | Not required; Pc per step from the published formula | Acquisition plus Hassler–Brunner, Forbes, Hagoort interpretation |
| Power | 220 V ±10 %, 50 Hz, single phase, 20 A line | 200 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 20 A |
| Size / weight | About 800 × 740 × 930 mm / about 300 kg | Not stated |
“Not stated” means the figure is not given in the manufacturer's published material; it does not mean the feature is absent.
What the differences mean in practice
Measurement. Weighing gives average saturation per plug after each step with no calibration of a camera or tube. It takes a stop and a weighing per step, so a full curve takes operator time. The UC20 records production continuously and needs no stops, which saves labour and gives transient data for relative permeability.
Speed. The UC20 reaches higher speed. For most drainage end-points on conventional reservoir rock, about 11,000 rpm on the UC-200 standard rotor is enough; check the reachable Pc with the formula on the product page for your plug length and fluid pair.
Imbibition. The UC-200 is a drainage instrument. If the programme needs forced imbibition or USBM wettability, look at the imaging models: the Coretest Automated Core Centrifuge or the UC20.
Who each is for
Laboratories that need drainage capillary pressure and Swi end-points by the gravimetric method on a budget, with a refrigerated chamber and no imaging software to maintain.
Laboratories that need live imaging, forced imbibition, relative permeability from production data or speeds above 11,000 rpm.
Choosing within the Coretest line
If you need camera reading and imbibition, see the Coretest Automated Core Centrifuge, which has its own comparison with the UC20. For six plugs at moderate speed and 5 to 90 °C, see the LERC4500.
Questions
Is weighing as accurate as imaging?
Weighing measures the average saturation of the plug directly, and is often used as the reference for imaging methods. It does not give production versus time within a step.
Can the UC-200 run 1.5 in plugs?
Yes. Rotors are built for 1 in or 1.5 in plugs up to 2 in long; a rotor for 3 × 1.5 in plugs is limited to about 9,000 rpm.
Does the UC-200 run imbibition?
No, it is a drainage instrument. Imbibition and USBM cycles are run on the Automated Core Centrifuge.
Need drainage capillary pressure without a camera system?
Send the rock type, plug size, fluid pair, target capillary pressure and temperature. We will match them to a rotor and configuration.
Request a quoteDatasheet (PDF)← Coretest UC-200 High-Speed Core Centrifuge: description and specification
Also compare:
- Coretest Capillary Pressure Refrigerated Centrifuge LERC4500 as an alternative to the Vinci RC4500
- Coretest Automated Core Centrifuge as an alternative to the Core Lab ACES-300
- Coretest Automated Core Centrifuge as an alternative to the Vinci UC20
- Replacement for the Coretest URC-628
Trademark notice: Vinci Technologies and the model names referenced on this page are trademarks of their respective owners. Coretest is not affiliated with, authorized, endorsed or sponsored by these companies. Comparisons are based on each manufacturer's published brochures and product pages as of 28 September 2026 and are provided for engineering evaluation only. Specifications change; verify current data with each vendor before purchase.
