Eco-Friendly Sprayable Girth Gear Lubricant for Cement Industry
Introduction
Open gear drives are common methods of power transmission for rotating equipment. Modern drives are often the most economical drive alternatives when high load carrying capacity, and long service life under severe shock loading conditions are required. These characteristics have made open gearing a popular drive for rugged, rotating equipment such as grinding mills, Kilns driers etc. These equipments are lubricated with girth gear lubricants. In cement plant, generally girth gears are used for crushing raw materials. These equipments operate under different environment and operating conditions. A wide variety of lubricants are presently employed.
Currently, sprayable greases are used for the lubricant of girth gears in cement plants. The consumption of these greases is about 500 – 600 metric tons p.a. costing around Rs. 20 – 30 crores. Moreover, they are entirely imported. These lubricants are mineral oil based and non-biodegradable. On account of environmental concern and government regulations, these lubricants are in urgent need of replacement. The practice of using copious types of lubricant is no longer acceptable. End users are demanding more environmentally acceptable lubricants that are economical as well as easy to dispose off.
Keeping these requirements in mind, the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun has developed eco-friendly, biodegradable & sprayable girth gear lubricant for cement plant. The performance of this product is better than the existing commercial product.
Physico-chemical / performance characteristics of the developed product
SNo. |
Parameter/Method |
Developed Product |
| NLGI Grade (NLGI) | 0 | |
| 1 | Color | Dark Brown |
| 2 | Consistency at 25°CWorked at 60x (ASTMD-217) |
365 360 |
| 3 | Copper Corrosion at 100°C for 24 hrs (IP-130) |
pass |
| 4 | Rust Preventive ASTM D-1743 | Nil |
| Emcor rust preventive (IP-220) | Pass | |
| 4 | a. Load Wear index,Kg (IP-239) b.Four ball weld load,Kgf (IP239) c Four ball WSD (ASTM D2266) |
165 >800 0.375 |
| Timken O.K.Load,lbs | 45 | |
| 4 | FZG Scuffing test, (A,8.3/90) a.Damaged load b.Wear,Wt.loss,mg |
>12 0.2 |
| 5 | Bio-degradability ASTM D-5864-95 | Biodegradable |
- Suggested minimum plant capacity: 100 tons per annum
- Likely investment: ~ Rs.15 lakhs.
- Product cost: Rs.250/- per kg
- Pay back period: ~ 2 years
- The technology is ready for transfer.
For further information please contact
Contact for more information:
Director
Indian Institute of Petroleum
P.O. IIP, Mohkampur
Dehradun - 248005
Email: director@iip.res.in
Tel: +91 135 2660205
Fax: +91 135 2660098 / 2660202
