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Polyglycol gear oils offer big savings

A Kluber Lubrication GB product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 27, 2005

Although in the past wind power plants were normally lubricated with mineral oils, synthetic gear oils are now increasingly used because of the demanding performance requirements.

Although in the past wind power plants were normally lubricated with mineral oils, synthetic gear oils are now increasingly used because of the demanding performance requirements.

Besides the more widespread polyalfaolefin and ester oils, polyglycols have also proven successful in many wind power applications.

They are more resistant to ageing and loads, and lead to less friction and power loss than mineral oils.

As they allow longer maintenance intervals and have a higher efficiency, they enable substantial cost savings.

The potential for savings is demonstrated by a simple calculation.

If you compare the costs for the lubrication of the main gears of an average wind power plant (power 1.5MW, 7000 operating hours per year, service life 20 years, oil volume 400 litre) taking into account oil costs, gear maintenance and plant efficiency, the following approximate figures are obtained for the different types of oil: Eur 200,000 for mineral oil; Eur 180,000 for a gear oil based on polyalfaolefin; and Eur 150,000 if a polyglycol gear oil is used.

This shows that over the wind power plant's lifetime, a polyglycol oil allows savings of Eur 30,000 compared with polyalfaolefin, and as much as Eur 50,000 compared with a mineral oil.

The builders and operators of wind power plants are acting in a field where ecology and economy are deemed equally important.

High performance polyglycol oils can help to satisfy the needs of both spheres: low oil quantities reduce the strain on valuable resources, while longer service lives allow cost savings due to less maintenance and lower purchasing and disposal volumes.

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