Table 2: Green lubricant choices
Use |
Current product |
Green options |
Advantages |
Bearings on electric motors and pumps |
Lithium thickened mineral oil based grease |
Synthetic oil with a complex grease thickener |
Less torque in winter and less oil loss in summer. Possibly longer relubrication intervals. Can also be more biodegradable |
Motor oil in vehicles or equipment |
10W30 mineral oil |
5W30 and/or recycled mineral oil |
Energy and fuel savings and possibly less wear with a high VI oil. Can be part recycled oil |
Transformer |
Mineral oil |
Synthetic ester based fluids |
Readily biodegradable, better fire resistance and low sheen |
Gearboxes |
AGMA 8 mineral oils |
AGMA 8 synthetic PAO oil |
Energy savings, potentially longer service lives and less need for heating in winter and cooling in summer |
Wicket gates |
Mineral oil based grease |
Canola oil based |
Base fluid is vegetable oil, which is readily biodegradable, less ecotoxic and low sheen |
Wire Ropes |
Asphaltic solvent cut back mineral oils |
Vegetable or ester based oils and calcium sulphate thickeners |
Less polynuclear aromatics and less solvent. Plus can have better corrosion protection |