ACCORDING to Klüber Lubrication, specialty lubricants can help operators considerably reduce their energy costs and improve their CO2 balance.
Industrial machinery and plants today utilise countless large and small cogs and wheels, gears, bearings, and compressors.
The movement of these components results in a constant consumption of energy. Designers and operators of these systems therefore prioritise the reduction in energy consumption, in order to reduce bottom line costs.
While energy is a major cost factor for its consumers, it is also responsible for generating greenhouse gases. In Oceania, for example, the generation of one megawatt hour of energy causes an emission of approximately 859kg of CO2 on average, depending on the regional energy mix of fossil fuels, nuclear power and renewable sources of energy.
To reduce emissions and energy consumption, Klüber Lubrication recommends reducing friction through the use of speciality lubricants. It claims test rig measurements have shown the use of suitable special lubricants can help minimise friction and increase the component's efficiency by up to 10%.
In selecting lubricants, tribologists look at the materials used in the components, and the ambient working conditions such as very high or very low temperatures, pressure, rotational speed or moisture.
Klüber Lubrication claims while the savings provided by these lubricants in each gear or part can be miniscule, they are multiplied in industrial systems with hundred and thousands of parts, leading to significant reduction in energy costs.
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