One way to protect a wind-turbine investment, especially when out-of-warranty, is to apply the Optigear Synthetic X 320 for more sustained protection, according to lubricant company Castrol. It says when comparing its lubricant with the global market leader’s product, engineers find a 5 to 10% thicker protective oil film with advantages at low speeds. A thicker film delivers superior wear protection from start-up and lower friction protects against energy loss.
The company has developed lubricants that exceed OEM standards to protect and maximize the performance of next generation of wind-turbine gearboxes.
Some features include:
- Higher resistance to micropitting. Synthetic X 320 offers greater gearbox protection under high loads, preserving turbine components longer.
- Greater Protection against component damage. X 320 has demonstrated, says the company, less component weight loss to protect the gearbox from fatigue and wear. Independent testing measuring component weight loss demonstrated that X 320 offers significantly more protection against potentially damaging micropitting than the global market leader’s product.
- Smooth surfaces. Synthetic X 320 can smooth surfaces resulting in minimal wear or damage. After 9 hours of testing, X 320’s friction modifiers helped smooth surface damage, halting the effects of micropitting leading to gearbox damage or failure.
While competing products exhibited further wear, Castrol Optigear Synthetic X 320 showed significantly lower wear and stabilized the system after 5 h, after which little or no wear occurred in the 9 h micropitting test.
Low fluid friction in the load zone of gears and rolling-contact bearings is key to top performance and life expectancy of a turbine. Low fluid friction also lowers operating temperatures and improves gear efficiency, reducing power consumption and extending part life by reducing the extent of damage caused by micropitting.
Repeated independent micropitting test results show that Synthetic X 320 exhibits lower average friction coefficient compared with competing products that protect a gearbox from micropitting, and captures more energy from less wind.
The company says it has performed extensive testing against OEM and turbine manufacturers’ specifications so it can provide lubricants for all applications in wind turbines.
Castrol
Castrol.com
Filed Under: Lubricants, News, O&M
